59. Sir F. HALLasked the Prime Minister if a deputation has recently been received from persons purporting to 1223 represent the miners, the railway workers, and the transport workers, demanding that the blockade of the Central Empires should at once be raised, and other steps taken to relieve the German people from the consequences of the crimes of which they have been guilty; if the deputation threatened a general stoppage of work if their views on this matter were not accepted; who composed the deputation, and what evidence was forthcoming that this threat represented the unfettered balloted opinion of the rank and file of the actual workers concerned themselves; and if, in view of the growing evidence of the influences which are being brought to bear by Germany in this country to relieve them of responsibility for the War and the atrocities committed against the Allied peoples and their soldiers and sailors, he will afford an opportunity for discussion of the matter in the House at an early date?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe deputation referred to was received by me on the 22nd of May and the proceedings will be made public immediately, and I see no reason for adopting the course suggested in the last part of the question.