§ 48. Mr. MALCOLMasked the Prime Minister whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce the amending Bill for the better government of Ireland before the Adjournment of this House for the Autumn Recess?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, Sir.
§ Mr. W. O'BRIENIf the right hon. Gentleman wants the thanks of every human being in Ireland except the place-hunters, why not drop this hateful project altogether?
§ 49. Major HUNTasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that an assurance was given to loyal Irish-men that Home Rule would not be brought into effect before the end of the War, and that relying on that pledge they went abroad to fight, he can assure the House that adequate safeguards will be put into the new Home Rule Bill which will give all necessary protection to all the loyal Unionists living outside the six counties in Ireland?
§ 66 and 67. Major NEWMANasked the Prime Minister (1) whether the proposed Bill to enable the Government of Ireland Act, subject to certain modifications, to be brought into immediate operation will be in all its provisions and details temporary 667 and provisional; and (2) whether any proposed modification of the Government of Ireland Act, 1912, dealing with the exclusion of any part of Ireland from the operation of the Act or with the formation of the Irish House of Commons from the Irish Members of the Imperial House of Commons, who will continue to sit and vote in full numbers in the Imperial House, will be of a strictly temporary and provisional character and both on the same footing?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI must ask my hon. Friend to await the introduction of the Bill.
§ Major NEWMANIs it not the fact that these proposals were to be submitted to the people of Ireland in a cutand-dried form: has that been done?
§ Major HUNTAre the Government going to break their promise behind the backs of these men?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAll that will be fully dealt with in the Bill.
§ Mr. MALCOLMWill the right hon. Gentleman say when the Bill will be introduced?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI hope very soon.
§ 59 and 60. Mr. GRANTasked (1) if the Army Council or any individuals of the Army Council have expressed either approval or disapproval of the War Secretary's proposals, so far as they are known, with regard to Ireland; and, if so, can any such expressions be made public; and (2) if the Secretary of State for War had obtained the sanction and approval of the Army Council and of the military authorities in Ireland before he submitted his suggestions for the future government of Ireland to the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Member for Dublin University and to the hon. Member for Waterford?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe answer is in the negative. The Government have not consulted the Army Council on this matter.
§ 71. Major NEWMANasked the Prime Minister whether he can now inform the House of the exact proposals for the immediate bringing into operation of the Gov- 668 ernment of Ireland Act which were made to and accepted by the leaders of the Ulster and Nationalist parties and submitted to the Southern Unionist and Independent Nationalist parties; whether the proposals were also submitted to any leader or member of the Republican party; and, if so, with what result?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWith regard to the first part of the question, I have already stated these proposals in outline, and the details will be made clear when the Bill is introduced. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative, and the last part, therefore, does not arise.
§ Major NEWMANIs it a fact that these proposals were reduced to writing before being submitted to the parties?
§ The PRIME MINISTERUltimately they were in writing.
§ Mr. W. O'BRIENHas it not been publicly stated that the terms submitted have been reduced to writing, and, if so, why not publish the document and put an end to all this ambiguity?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt will be published.