§ 54. Sir J. BUTCHERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can assure the House that the verbal guarantee given by the former Leader of the House on 19th December, 1921, and repeated by the former Colonial Secretary on 13th March, 1922, that His Majesty's Government will be the guarantor of the pensions and compensation granted under Article 10 of the Treaty, is as valid and effectual as if such guarantee were embodied in a Statute; and, if he is unable to give such assurance, whether he will state the reasons, if any, why such verbal guarantee should not be embodied in a Statute?
§ Mr. BALDWINI can add nothing to the answer I have already given to my hon. and learned Friend on the 5th December, and to the assurances and explanations which were given by the Government both here and in another place during the Debates on the Irish Free State (Consequential Provisions) Act.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERIs my right hon. Friend aware that this question, which affects a very large number of loyal public servants in Ireland, has never yet been answered I Can he give any reason for not answering it?
§ Mr. BALDWINI do not agree with my hon and learned Friend. They are protected by statute under the Treaty.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERWas a verbal guarantee given, to be embodied in a statutory guarantee, or not?
§ Mr. BALDWINCertainly not. I can see no reason for embodying it in a statutory guarantee, on the assumption that people already affected by the guarantee are going to break their word.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERIn view of the unsatisfactory character of the answer, I will raise the matter on the Adjournment to-night.