HC Deb 15 March 1922 vol 151 cc2196-7
Mr. T. P. O'CONNOR

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, "the serious lack of coordination in the action of His Majesty's Ministers which brought about the resignation of the Secretary of State for India."

The pleasure of the House having been signified, the Motion stood over, under Standing Order No. 10, until a quarter past Eight o'clock this evening.

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

May I ask, Mr. Speaker, whether you can give us any guidance as to the scope of the Debate which you will allow on this Motion? Will it be eligible to any hon. Member to attack or defend the general policy of the Government in respect of India or the East or any other matter, or will the Debate be strictly confined to the alleged lack of proper co-ordination in the Government.

Mr. SPEAKER

I think I indicated on Monday last that this would not be an occasion for an argument on the policy of His Majesty's Government, in one direction or another. I think the utmost that would be open would be for the hon. Member to ask a simple question of the Government whether the policy, in India or in the Near East previously announced, has been deflected in any degree by what has happened in the last few days.

Sir J. D. REES

Will the hon. Gentleman who obtained the Adjournment of the House be able and willing to keep out of the Debate the Turkish and Armenian questions.

Mr. SPEAKER

That remains to be seen. In that direction I will give my best assistance both to the hon. Member for the Scotland Division of Liverpool (Mr. O'Connor) and to the hon. Member for East Nottingham (Sir J. D. Sees).