§ 45. Mr. HOGGEasked the Prime Minister whether he has considered the precedents of the South African Republic and Egypt in relation to the settlement of the Irish difficulties; and whether he is willing to send a Commission to Ireland, similar to the Milner Commission, in order to further explore the possibility, not only of a cessation of crime, but of a settlement of the whole question?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI can add nothing to previous statements on this subject.
§ Mr. HOGGEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that he has never made a statement on this subject? As a matter of fact, I raised this in Debate last Thursday, and cannot my right hon. Friend say specifically whether until the Government have repressed all crime on both sides he is unprepared to take any other step?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have repeatedly made statements on the whole point and pith of this question, "to farther explore the possibility, not only of a cessation of crime, but of a settlement of the whole question." Not only have I made statements, but we are constantly bearing that in mind.
§ Mr. HOGGEIs it not a fact that the right hon. Gentleman has refused to go any further with the resolutions which were passed by the Labour Congress in Dublin, which was a representative body; and does he adhere to the view that, up till now, no representative body of opinion has emerged in Ireland which would lead him to enter into negotiations with them with any hope of settlement?
§ The PRIME MINISTERTake the very question which the hon. Gentleman is asking me. It was the subject of a very prolonged discussion on Thursday last by my hon. Friend the. Member for Belfast (Mr. Devlin), and I can add nothing to what I said then.