§ 33. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister whether he has addressed any further invitation to the leaders of the Sinn Fein party in Ireland to negotiate a settlement with His Majesty's Government; and what progress has been made to date?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Lloyd GeorgeNo, Sir. The attitude of the Government was defined by me in my speech in this House on the 28th April last. The offer I have repeatedly made has not up to the present led to any response.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYHas the right hon. Gentleman taken any further steps to try to induce some negotiating party to meet our representatives, in view of the increased loss of life in Ireland on both sides?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not see what further step can possibly be taken. A public offer was made in the House of Commons. It has undoubtedly been conveyed to these gentlemen, and they have made no response: at least, if any response has come it has not reached us.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYHas not the position been altered by the recent Elections held in the South and West of Ireland. Does not that give a new negotiating body, and cannot we address ourselves to that body in the interests of peace?
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that the increasing lawlessness in Ireland demands some more useful policy than that of pure drift, which is the policy adopted by the Government?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo; on the contrary, we certainly do not propose 295 to drift. If it demand anything further, it is an addition to the forces of the Crown there to cope with it.
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKDoes not every day prove the increasing importance and hopelessness of the present Government in Ireland?
§ The PRIME MINISTERQuite the reverse.