THE EARL OF CAMPERDOWNI do not know whether I might put another question in anticipation. I should like to ask whether, when this sitting comes to an end and we adjourn, the Motion will be simply that the House do adjourn until the 25th instant, or whether anything further will be said.
THE MARQUESS OF CREWEI will answer the noble Earl's question, as he says, by anticipation, and I am glad to do so because I shall shortly have to go away on urgent business and may not be able to stay until the adjournment takes place. If I was now to move the adjournment of the House, I should simply say this—that we propose to adjourn for a fortnight, and that it is our hope that when the House reassembles we shall be able to arrive at a conclusion, which I trust may prove to be an agreed conclusion, with regard to the winding up of the session. It is impossible for me to say more than that at this moment, but I hope that when we meet after the adjournment we shall then be in a position to consider the question of concluding the session, and, as I say, I trust that we may be all agreed as to the method of doing so.
§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNEThe noble Marquess on Friday last, in giving as a kind of preliminary intimation of the intentions of His Majesty's Government, made a statement which seemed to me somewhat oracular, but I did not think it desirable at the moment to press him for further information. He has supplemented that by a further statement this evening, to the words of which we naturally attach a great deal of importance. I gather that what he has to tell us is this, that we are to adjourn for a fortnight and that by the end of that time His Majesty's Government hope to be able to wind up the business of the session and to do so on the basis of some arrangement with regard to outstanding legislation which shall be generally acceptable. I interpret that statement, not as a definite announcement that the business of the session will be wound up when we come back again a fortnight hence, but as indicating that His Majesty's Government have a hope or an expectation of being able so to arrange matters that the winding up of the session will be possible. As to this, I will only say that I trust that these expectations will not be disappointed. I will acid one observation, and it is this. Considering all that has happened during the last few days in Parliament, throughout the country, and particularly in Ireland; considering the universal effort which is being made by people of every political complexion to co-operate in the interests of the country at this critical time; con- 494 sidering the manner in which animosities have been laid on one side, and the way in which every one has sought to be instrumental in presenting a united front to the world, it would, in my view, be the gravest of calamities if anything were to happen at this moment, or during the next few days, to revive dormant differences or to mar the unanimity of our patriotism.