§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, it was arranged that we should come to some conclusion as to the Irish debate, if that were possible. I had hoped that the noble Viscount, the Lord Chancellor, would have been on the Woolsack, but no doubt he is detained. It was anticipated that the Secretary of State for the Colonies would have been able to make a statement in another place to-day in respect of the Irish crisis. He has, I understand, not been able to make such a statement, and, moreover, has spoken in very doubtful terms as to whether he will be able to make it to-morrow. If that turns out to be a correct anticipation, and he postpones the statement in the House of Commons until Wednesday or perhaps later, it behoves your Lordships to decide whether the debate should take place in this House to-morrow, as arranged, or not. I understand that His Majesty's Government, as at present advised—although, of course, events might alter their intention—are disposed to think it would be disadvantageous to proceed with the discussion to-morrow.
In these circumstances, I think, I shall best consult the convenience of your Lordships if I leave the Notice on the Paper to-morrow and decide in the course of tomorrow morning, if my noble friend opposite will allow me to communicate with him, as to whether we should proceed with the debate in the evening. It is possible that circumstances will have arisen between now and then which will enable us to come to a conclusion more easily. In the event, however, of its being necessary to postpone the debate from to-morrow, I should then ask the Government's co-operation in taking it on the following day, or even later, if necessary. Your Lordships will remember that the noble and learned Viscount, the Lord Chancellor, told the House that it would not be proper for us to separate without a discussion on the 872 subject. I should, therefore, hope to proceed on that basis.
If the debate takes place to-morrow, as previously arranged, it would no doubt be upon the Motion that I have tabled, but if it is to be a simultaneous discussion with the House of Commons, which will he the case if it is postponed still further, then I anticipate that the Government will be good enough to begin the debate and make the statement for which I asked them two days ago. A statement will be made, no doubt, by the Colonial Secretary in another place, and we should, of course, expect that it would be balanced by a statement here by the noble and learned Viscount on the Woolsack, or by any Minister who took charge of the Irish business. I hope that, in what I have said, I have not gone contrary in any degree to what would be the wish of the Government. I should be much happier in discussing this matter if I knew what the intentions of the Government were.
THE EARL OF CRAWFORDMy Lords, the only intention of the Government is that this House and another place shall have information at the earliest possible moment. But the difficulty, as the noble Marquess, Lord Salisbury, very well knows, is that at this moment the Lord Chancellor is absent owing to one of these conferences going on. For my part I desire to do what the noble Marquess suggests—to recommend him to leave his Motion on the Paper for to-morrow and, if he fails to get an opportunity of speaking on the subject, to put it off until Wednesday. I greatly hope that it will not be necessary to invite your Lordships to sit on Thursday, in the event of it proving impossible to finish on Wednesday. Beyond that, I very much regret that I am not in a position to make any announcement to your Lordships House. The Motion of the noble Marquess, Lord Salisbury, would be, in effect, the first on the Paper for to-morrow.
§ THE EARL OF SELBORNEI presume that the Government will make their statement in both Houses.
THE EARL OF CRAWFORDIf there is anything to state it will be stated there by the Minister concerned, and here by the noble and learned Viscount.
§ House adjourned at ten minutes before eight o'clock.