§ 8. Lieut.-Colonel ARCHER-SHEEasked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to Article 3 of the constitution of the Irish Free State, the provisions of which run directly counter to the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Acts, 1014 to 1918 whether a person naturalised as a citizen of the Irish Free State will become ipso facto a British subject whether a person who is a British subject, but not a citizen of the Irish Free State, will have exactly the same rights and privileges as a citizen of the Irish free State in Ireland; and whether, in the opinion of the legal advisers of the Government, this is in accordance with the Treaty, which specifically states in Article 2 that the position of the Irish Free State shall be analogous to the position of the Dominion of Canada, in which there is no duality of citizenship?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe definition of Irish Free State citizenship in Article 3 of the draft constitution is not the definition of a national status, and therefore cannot run counter to the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Acts, 1914 to 1918. The second part of the question, therefore, does not arise. The answer to the third part of the question is in the negative, and I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answers given to the hon. Member for St. Rollox (Mr. G. Murray) on the 3rd and 20th 1645 July. As regards the last part of the question, I am advised that the arrangement proposed is not inconsistent with the position in the Dominion of Canada.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ARCHER-SHEEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it was stated on the 6th July, in reply to a question by the hon. Member for St. Rollox, that one of the advantages of Irish citizenship was free elementary education, and can he say why British citizens are not to be given the right of free education, whereas Irish citizens are allowed it in this country?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that, as far as I know, there is no intention of debarring children of any nationality in Ireland now or in the future from elementary education.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ARCHER-SHEECan the right hon. Gentleman say whether Irish citizenship means that a person who acquires Irish citizenship becomes a British subject, as in the case of Canada, as Ireland is supposed to be treated equal with Canada in this matter?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThis is a technical question of domicile and nationality. Several questions have been answered, and I must decline to reply further than the answers I have already given.
Mr. GIDEON MURRAYWhat will be the position of Irish citizens in Great Britain? Will they be British subjects, and will Irish citizens be treated as British subjects, or will the position be reciprocal?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ARCHER-SHEEIs this not a most dangerous extension of this empirical experiment of Empire decentralisation?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI think that these legal questions should be put on the Paper.