§ 42 Major NEWMANasked the Home Secretary (1) whether, among others, the following boards of guardians have passed resolutions against the proposals for a settlement of the Home Rule question as outlined by the Minister of Munitions: Callan, Dungarvan, Baltin-glass, Mallow, Innishowen, Kilmallock, 1209 Castlebar, Granard, Ballinrobe, Sligo, Limerick, Tubbereurry, New Ross, Eden-derry, Skibbereen, Tralee, Manorhamilton, and Clonmel; and, if so, whether he will bring this fact to the knowledge of the Government; (2) whether he has official information showing that the Irish Trades Union Congress and Labour Party at a recent meeting held in Dublin condemned the proposals for a settlement of the Home Rule question as outlined by the Minister of Munitions; and (3) whether, among others, the following county, urban, and rural councils have passed resolutions to protest against the proposals for a settlement of the Home Rule question as outlined by the Minister of Munitions: Meath, Monaghan, Kerry, Dungarvan, Killala, Carriek-on-Suir, Sligo, Thomastown, Trim, Enniscorthy, Skibbereen, Delvin, Listowel, Castlecomer, Donegal, Manorhamilton, Mallow, Dundalk, Armagh, Tullamore, Carrack-on-Shannon, Boyle, Dunshaughlin, Tralee, and Millstreet; and, if so, whether he will bring this fact to the knowledge of the Government?
§ Major NEWMANWould the right hon. Gentleman care for me to send in a supplementary list of the same sort—would it help him?
Mr. SAMUELI have asked the authorities in Ireland to report on the resolutions received. I understand they have not yet received them.
§ 46. Mr. GINNELLasked the Prime Minister whether it was with his concurrence that martial law and the Defence of the Realm Act were used in Belfast last week for the political purpose of facilitating a meeting in St. Mary's Hall to promote the partition of Ireland and preventing a meeting in the Ulster Hall in opposition to that project; and, seeing that the period for which the present Parliament was elected expired last January, whether he will delay the introduction of any Bill embodying that project pending the election of a constitutional Parliament by the electorate, and in the meantime withdraw the restraints on free expression of opinion on that subject?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI must refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Cork City on the 26th June, to which I have nothing to add.
§ Mr. GINNELLThe answer to which I am referred contains nothing about withholding any Bill with reference to the partition of Ireland. Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the latter part of the question on the Paper?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, Sir, not at present.
§ 61. Major HUNTasked the Prime Minister whether, under the Irish settlement proposed by the Minister of Munitions, the exclusion of the six Unionist counties was to be final and not subject to revision after the War, or whether it-was to be temporary and provisional; whether it was made clear to the Irish Unionist leader and to the Nationalist leader which it was to be; and did the Irish Unionist leader receive a promise from any Minister that the exclusion should be final and not subject to revision after the War?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI must ask my hon. Friend to await the general statement which I hope to make at an early date.