§ 37. Mr. GINNELLasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his concurrence has been obtained with that part of the negotiations for the partition of Ireland which involves the expendture of £80,000 of public money to found and run an evening "Freeman's Journal" in Dublin, to advocate partition and support those in favour of it; whether the scheme provides for the investment of public money in any other journalistic enterprise in Ireland; and whether, in the accounts of the fiancial relations between the two countries, all such investments of public money will be treated as expenditure for the benefit of Ireland?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am not aware of any such arrangement.
§ Mr. GINNELLWill the right hon. Gentleman inquire and not allow this payment to escape audit like that of £5,000 paid to Mrs. Pankhurst for a bogus procession?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have no need to inquire, because I am quite sure no such arrangement has been made.
§ The following question appeared in the name of Major HUNT:—
§ 50. To ask the Prime Minister if he can now state 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?"
§ Major HUNTAs the Prime Minister does not appear to know what the proposals were which the Cabinet unanimously agreed to, I ask leave to put this question off for the third time.
Sir H. DALZIELI desire to ask the Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury whether there is any prospect of a statement to the country on the Irish situation?
§ Mr. GULLAND (Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury)I cannot answer that question.
Sir H. DALZIELMay I ask the Home Secretary or some other Minister when the House of Commons is going to have some information on a matter which is of such urgent importance, and which is given to every outside tribunal apart from the House of Commons?
§ Mr. PRINGLEWill there ever be one?