HC Deb 22 April 1918 vol 105 cc676-7
48 and 49. Major NEWMAN

asked the Prime Minister (1) whether he is aware that upwards of 900 farmers from the three southern provinces, most of them comprising the new landowning class in Ireland, have already signed a protest against the introduction of Home Rule, in. view of the existing situation in Ireland; have the Government taken into consideration the position in which the many thousands of newly-created small landowners will be placed if authority for the maintenance of law and order is transferred from an Imperial to a Home Rule Executive; (2) whether ho has received, and read, a protest from many thousands of residents in the southern provinces of Ireland against the application of any measure of Home Rule to Ireland, in view of the present state of lawlessness and disloyalty of the part of the country in which they reside; and has he been able to state, in reply, that the Imperial Parliament will make a grant of any measure of self-government to Ireland contingent on the restoration of law and order?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I can add nothing to what has already been said on this subject.

Major NEWMAN

Has the Prime Minister received a protest, and, if so, has he read it?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I am afraid I must ask my right hon. Friend the specific question as to whether he has read it. I have no doubt the has received it.

Mr. ARGHDALE

Has the right hon. Gentleman read the statement which the hon. and gallant Member for Galway made to his constituents yesterday, that the establishment of Home Rule will be a permanent safeguard against Conscription?

50. Sir ALFRED YEO

asked the Prime Minister if he will, as promised, bring in immediately the Home Rule Bill with a view to its speedily becoming law, and, if so, at what date?

Mr. BONAR LAW

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I regret that i am not yet in a position to name a date.

Colonel Sir F. HALL

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is the intention of the Government not to conscript Irishmen until the Home Rule Bill has passed its various stages?