HC Deb 12 July 1917 vol 95 c2107
54 and 55. Mr. PATRICK WHITE

asked the Prime Minister (1) whether, having regard to the fact that he has refused to the people of Ireland the right to elect delegates to frame a constitution for their own country, and that the chairmen of county councils nominated by him only represent a constituency of about one twenty-eighth of their respective counties, he will take steps, and, if so, of what nature, to elicit the opinion of the remaining twenty-seven twenty-eighths of the people of each county in Ireland before asking them to submit to the finding of such a small minority; and (2) whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction in the minds of large numbers of people in Ireland on the ground that the proposed assembly to try and frame a constitution for the Irish people is unrepresentative; and whether he will even now, in order to restore respect and confidence in its deliberations, create it a convention to be elected by the Irish people?

Mr. BONAR LAW

The answer to these questions is in the negative.