HC Deb 05 June 1917 vol 94 cc24-6
45. Mr. BYRNE

asked the Prime Minister whether any arrangements have been made to enable the Irish prisoners at Lewes to consider the proposed plans for the settlement of the Irish question; if they will be released or afforded opportunities to discuss the proposals; and if he is aware that no settlement will be considered satisfactory without the Irish prisoners' consent?

46. Mr. LYNCH

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the importance of removing all causes of internal friction, he will advise a general amnesty of all Irish prisoners detained as a result of political disturbances?

54. Mr. PATRICK WHITE

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the majority of the Irish race at home and abroad considered that the state of their motherland since its occupation by the English always justified resistance to that rule; and whether, as they only differed with their kinsmen at home who fought in Easter week, 1916, as to the opportune moment of attempting to throw it off, he will as a condition precedent to the summoning of a peace conference between the two nations styled a Convention of Irishmen hand over to the charge of their own countrymen or treat as prisoners of war those men and women now in English prisons and forced to herd with moral and Other criminals because of their action in Easter week of last year?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I cannot at present add anything to what has previously been said on this subject.

Mr. BYRNE

Will the right hon. Gentleman make an announcement to the House about these Irish prisoners, and is he aware that they are being starved at the present moment?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I am not at all aware that they are being starved, and I can add nothing to the answer I have already given.

Mr. BYRNE

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that one of the prisoners was sent to a criminal lunatic asylum for hunger strike, and will he make inquiry?

47 Major NEWMAN

asked the Prime Minister (1) whether he can give the House the terms of reference of the Convention to be summoned to make recommendations to the Imperial Parliament on the problems of Irish government; (2) whether he can give the House any information as to the numbers and composition of the Convention summoned to discuss the government of Ireland; has the status and voting power of members of the Convention who are nominated by the Government and not elected or nominated by any of the five Irish political parties represented in this House been laid down; (3) whether any conditions laid down by any of the five political parties in Ireland before agreeing to be represented at the forthcoming Irish Convention have been, or will be, communicated to the leaders of the four other parties before the first meeting of the Convention; (4) whether, in the event of an invitation being extended to local authorities to send representatives to the forthcoming Irish Convention, the Government have intimated or will intimate the desirability of the representation of minorities from these bodies by means of election by the method of proportional representation?

53. Sir H. DALZIEL

asked the Prime Minister whether he can give any information to the House in regard to the progress that has been made in connection with the summoning of the proposed Irish Convention?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I cannot say more in answer to these questions than that the Government completed last week their proposals as to the composition of the Convention, and we are now awaiting the decision of some of the parties interested, who, I understand, are holding committees to consider it in the next fey days.

Major NEWMAN

In answer to Question No. 50, can the right hon. Gentleman say anything as to the possibility of adopting a system of proportional representation?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I do not think it is desirable that I should say anything more on the subject than I have already stated.

Mr. GINNELL

Is the right hon. Gentleman in a position to inform the House whether the Irish political prisoners at Lewes, who have been invited to attend this Convention, have accepted the invitation?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I cannot add anything to my answer to the question, and I was not aware of their having been invited to attend.