§ Mr. T. P. O'CONNOR(by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Agriculture what were the terms of the express arrangement with the Canadians referred to by the Attorney-General in last night's Debate, whereby whatever provisions on this side apply to Canadian cattle should apply equally to Irish cattle; also, what was the date of this arrangement? Will the right hon. Gentleman produce to the House the terms of that arrangement?
§ Sir R. SANDERSAt the first meeting of the Conference with the Canadian Ministers on 14th October last, in reply to a question from the Canadian representatives as to whether, in regard to the six days' detention after landing, all cattle would be treated alike, Sir Arthur Boscawen said, "We treat you exactly the same," and Mr. Winston Churchill added, "There will be no discrimination." The same subject was considered, among others, by a Committee of experts on the 16th October, who reported that the Canadian representatives did not regard the regulation of movement of imported animals as a matter on which they were entitled to express any view, so long as such Regulations applied to all imported cattle.
§ Sir J. SIMONIs not there a great difference between saying that the Dominion of Canada desires to be treated in the same way as Ireland, and saying that the Dominion of Canada insists that certain terms shall be put upon Ireland?
§ Sir R. SANDERSIt is not true that the Dominion of Canada insisted upon any terms being put upon Ireland.
§ Mr. O'CONNORWere any representatives of Ireland present at the consultation between the Colonial Secretary, the late Minister of Agriculture, and the Canadian delegates, or at the subsequent discussions upon the subject?
§ Sir R, SANDERSNo, Sir, there were not. The Colonial Secretary is responsible for Ireland.
§ Mr. O'CONNORDoes the right hon. Gentleman mean to suggest that the Colonial Secretary was authorised to speak the opinion of Ireland, without showing that he had in any way consulted the opinion of Ireland?
§ Sir R. SANDERSNo, I do not say that. I mean what I say. The Colonial Secretary is the Minister responsible for Ireland to this House.
§ Mr. O'CONNORDoes that mean that the Colonial Secretary was authorised, simply because he was Colonial Secretary then responsible for Ireland in this House,
§ to make an arrangement with regard to the cattle of Ireland without consulting the opinion of Ireland, or any representative of that opinion?
§ Sir R. SANDERSNo arrangement with regard to the cattle of Ireland was made with the Canadian Government at all.
§ Mr. O'CONNOROh, yes!
§ Sir R. SANDERSNothing of the sort was done. The arrangement was one which was made for our own benefit with regard to Irish cattle. All the stipulation with regard to Canada was that they should be treated in the same way as Ireland—no better and no worse.