§ 45. Mr. LEWISasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if, as a result of the recent conversations with members of the Government of the Irish Free State, it is now proposed to conduct further negotiations with that Government in preparation for the conference at Ottawa?
§ 46. Colonel GRETTONasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he can make a statement as to the position as regards the Irish Free State?
§ Mr. HANNONOn a point of Order. In view of the fact that the Opposition have a promise of a day for a Debate from the Government on this subject, may I ask whether these questions had not better be postponed?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is not a point of Order. That is not for me to decide.
Mr. THOMASI have nothing to add to the official communiqué issued last Friday except that I understand that it is likely that a further communication will be received from the President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State after he has had an opportunity of discussion with his colleagues.
§ Mr. LANSBURYIn view of the intense interest in the country and this House on this subject, may I ask whether the Government consider that Friday would be a good day for a discussion?
Mr. THOMASIf my right hon. Friend will repeat that question to the Lord President, I am sure he will be ready to make arrangements.
§ Mr. LANSBURYThen may I be allowed to put the question to the Lord President now?
§ The LORD PRESIDENT of the COUNCIL (Mr. Baldwin)The House will remember that I said that on an appropriate occasion I thought a Debate would be of value, and I purposely kept Friday open for it. If it be the desire of the House that the matter should be taken on Friday, and the Leader of the Opposition will ask through the usual channels for the appropriate Departmental Vote to be put down, we will agree to Friday.
§ Mr. LANSBURYI would like to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he thinks that a Debate will be useful and advantageous towards a settlement, because that is what really would decide us in asking that the Vote should be put down?
Mr. THOMASI am sure the House, and certainly the Government, appreciate to the full the courtesy and consideration shown by my right hon. Friend in not attempting to handicap or embarrass the Government. Having regard to all the circumstances, both as regards the events leading up to last week's negotiations and the position as I see it at the moment, I think it would be better for all that a Debate should take place on Friday.
§ Colonel GRETTONWill my right hon. Friend keep the House informed of any developments should any occur before the Debate on Friday?
Mr. THOMASIf there were any circumstances which warranted the Government in thinking that a Debate would be unnecessary, then they would take the opportunity, through the usual channels, of preventing it; otherwise, I see no useful purpose in informing the House of anything prior to Friday, seeing that we are then to have a full discussion.
§ Sir HUGH O'NEILLIn order to allay certain apprehensions which have been aroused, I wonder whether the right hon. Gentleman could possibly tell the House now whether any discussion took place with regard to Northern Ireland? If so, can he give an assurance that the Government will not assent to any interference with the position, of Ulster in the Constitution of the United Kingdom?
Mr. THOMASWhile I understand and appreciate the natural apprehension 23 of Ulster as a whole, and of my right hon. Friend in particular, surely he would be the first to appreciate the fact that if we are to have a full Debate the best time to deal with this matter will be in that Debate; and I am sure he will know sufficient of the Government as a whole to be under no apprehension and have no sleepless nights in the interval.