§ 31. Mr. THORNEasked the Attorney-General how many resolutions of protest he has received from trade unions, political, and religious organisations against the Incitement to Disaffection Bill, and by which of these bodies he has been asked to receive a deputation?
§ The SOLICITOR-GENERAL (Sir Donald Somervell)161 resolutions of protest against the Incitement to Disaffection Bill have been received by my right hon. and learned Friend, and he has been requested to receive two deputations.
§ Mr. THORNEMay I ask the hon. and learned Gentleman whether, in consequence of the tremendous opposition in this country, the Government would not be well advised to withdraw the Bill?
§ The SOLICITOR-GENERALMy right hon. and learned Friend judges these protests by their quality rather than by their quantity, and the large bulk of them are based upon a complete misunderstanding of the purpose and provisions of the Bill.
§ Mr. THORNEIs the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that 4,000,000 organised workers in this country are all against it?
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSCan my hon. and learned Friend say whether he has caused any inquiries to be made as to the number of signatories of the protests who have taken the trouble to read the Bill?
§ Mr. ANSTRUTHER-GRAYIs my hon. and learned Friend to receive these two deputations?
§ The SOLICITOR-GENERALOne deputation from the Central Council of the Society of Friends has already been received by my right hon. and learned Friend, and a deputation from the Womens International League will be seen, I understand, on Wednesday next.
§ Mr. D. GRENFELLIs the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that a very large number of the people who protest against the Bill have up to the present been loyal supporters of the Government, and has he anything against the quality of such opinions?
§ The SOLICITOR-GENERALI was not in any way attacking people who make protests. I stated that their protests had been received, and, from my examination of them, they were largely based upon a complete misunderstanding of the scope and provisions of the Bill.