HC Deb 14 July 1919 vol 118 cc28-30
59. Lieut.-Colonel HERBERT

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the present unsatisfactory state of Ireland, the Government have agreed upon an immediate policy

66. Lieut.-Colonel MURRAY

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the statement in the Coalition Manifesto of 21st November, 1918, that so long as the Irish question remained unsettled there could be no political peace either in the United Kingdom or in the Empire, and that it was one of the first obligations of British statesmanship to explore all practical paths towards the settlement of this grave and difficult question on the basis of self-government, he will say what steps His Majesty's Government is taking to explore all practical paths leading to a settlement?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I cannot add anything to the answer which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Yeovil on Thursday last.

Lieut.-Colonel MURRAY

When will the right hon. Gentleman be prepared to answer this question?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I cannot say.

Lieut.-Colonel MURRAY

Then they are not going to carry out the promise given in the Coalition manifesto?

Mr. BONAR LAW

As very often happens, my hon. Friend did not refer to the whole of that manifesto. It mentioned, among other things, that at that time the condition of Ireland was more inflamed and less open to compromise than it had been for a very long time, and that at that time it was not possible to take immediate action.

Mr. DEVLIN

Does the right hon. Gentleman intend to wait until things become worse and worse before he proclaims the Government's policy in regard to Ireland; and has he read the speech made by the right lion, and learned Gentleman the Member for Duncairn (Sir E. Carson) on Saturday?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I have said that I cannot say when we will state our policy. I cannot go beyond that. We do not wish to postpone any part of our policy, but we do not wish to attempt anything without some chance of success.

Mr. DEVLIN

Will the right hon. Gentleman be able to make a statement before the Recess?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I cannot give a definite answer to that effect.

Mr. DEVLIN

Is there any hope that the right hon. Gentleman will do some-tiling to allay the present situation in Ireland by some declaration of Government policy

Mr. BONAR LAW

Is my hon. Friend sure that any declaration we make will allay the existing situation?

Mr. DEVLIN

I am not sure that anything the Government say will do it. I ask the right hon. Gentleman what is he doing to restrain the orators who make such utterances as were made yesterday and on Friday and Saturday in Belfast; does he encourage the policy of provoking even the remnant of the country that still clings to constitutionalism to join the extreme forces in Ireland? Is that the policy of the Government?

Lieut.-Colonel MURRAY

May we assume that the present policy of drift is going to continue indefinitely?

Mr. FRANCE

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that the Government will administer impartially the law and endeavour to take steps to restrain anyone, no matter how powerful, from inciting certain sections of the community?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I can promise that the Government will administer the law impartially.

Mr. DEVLIN

In view of that declaration, what policy does the right hon. Gentleman propose to adopt, in the maintenance of the principle of law and order which he has laid down, in regard to the speech that was delivered last Saturday in Belfast?

Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCK

Can the right hon. Gentleman define Bolshevism

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