IRISH CONVENTION. (Hansard, 6 July 1917)

§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Lloyd George)

I think perhaps that the House would like to hear a statement about the steps which have been taken in reference to the Irish Convention and the stage at which we have arrived. The nominations by the various bodies which were invited to make nominations are not yet quite complete. The last of the nominations of the urban councils which will send representatives reached me on Monday of this week. One important group of nominations was sent in two days ago. Nomina- 1570 tions from two other bodies were received this morning, and there are now only a few nominations which have not yet been returned. There has been no avoidable delay in the issue of the invitations by the Government. Until we see who is nominated by the various parties and interests, we are, of course, not in a position to name definitely the fifteen gentlemen whom the Government will ask to serve. Provisionally, their names have been determined upon, and, as the general body of members is nearly now complete, we arc, I think, entitled to proceed.

We propose to invite the Convention to assemble on 25th July to deal with preliminary business, such as the appointment of its chairman and the constitution of its secretariat. I said to the House on a previous occasion that if the Convention were not able to agree upon a chairman, the Government would make the nomination. It is obviously better that the choice should be that of the members of the Convention themselves. The constitution of the secretariat is a matter on which the chairman and the Convention ought to be able to make their own proposals. We may be asked how this numerous body is to be expected to come promptly to business without, at any rate, some temporary president. In answer to that, I may state that we have decided to request the Chief Secretary to undertake the duties of a provisional or temporary chairman at the first coming together of the Convention, in order to obtain the decision of the members upon these questions of working machinery, which, of course, must be decided before they enter upon the great undertaking for which they are convened. We hope this task will not impose upon the Chief Secretary long absence from his official duties.

As to the place of meeting, the first group of sittings, at any rate, ought to be held in Dublin. Whether there should subsequently be sittings elsewhere is a matter on which the Convention need not be fettered by any decision taken by us at this time. The Government have had offers from Dublin of various meeting-places for the Convention. The Provost and Fellows of Trinity College offered a well-known hall of theirs—the Regent's Hall. The College of Physicians offered their buildings. The College of Surgeons offered theirs. I should like, on behalf of the Government, to acknowledge the 1571 admirable public spirit which has prompted their offers. The question, of the place of meeting is of importance, and we propose to make the definite announcement on this matter when we issue the formal summonses to the Convention, in the course of a few days. Whatever is necessary to be done to ensure the smooth working of this assembly or to facilitate its inquiries or its decisions will be 3one by the Government. Eminent and repre- 1572 sentative Irishmen from all parts of Ireland will come together in a spirit of conciliation and good will. They are determined, I feel sure, to do all they can to secure a settlement of the old discords which have afflicted their country. We shall do all we can to give them such help as is at our command.