§ 16. Mr. CLANCYasked the Chief Secretary whether the Regulation made under the Defence of the Realm Act under which certain documents relating to the proceedings of the Irish Convention may not be published has yet been repealed; if not, what is the reason for refusing to repeal it, especially in view of the fact that a general desire has been expressed by the members of the Convention for the publication of the documents; and if he will now consider the advisability of facilitating the immediate publication of the documents referred to?
§ Mr. SHORTTI have taken the opinion of members of the Convention, and they are not unanimous. On consideration, I have come to the conclusion that the regulation should not be repealed until it is certain that there is no chance of the Convention sitting again.
§ Mr. CLANCYCan the right hon. Gentleman say what proportion of the members of the Convention objected to the repeal of the Regulation?
§ Mr. SHORTTI cannot speak accurately from recollection, but I think a large majority was in favour of the repeal.
§ Mr. BARRIEDid the right hon. Gentleman receive a unanimous request from the Ulster Unionist members of the Convention in favour of the repeal of the Regulation?
§ Mr. SHORTTI have received the request, but whether unanimous or not I cannot say.
§ Mr. DEVLINIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the reason why the Ulster Unionist members of the Convention have taken this action is because they contributed nothing to the Convention?
§ Mr. SHORTTI do not know.