§ THE EARL OF SELBORNE had given Notice to ask his Majesty's Government—
§ 1. Whether the statement in The Times of May 8 is correct that a Minister representing the Irish Free State will shortly be appointed to Washington, and that His Majesty's Government has raised no objection to such an appointment;
§ 2. Under what clause of the Irish Treaty will this appointment be made;
§ 3. What steps His Majesty's Government propose to take to harmonise the representations of the British Ambassador and of the Free State Minister in respect of matters which concern both Great Britain and Ireland or the whole British Empire;
§ and to move for Papers.
§ The noble Earl said: My Lords, His Majesty's Government have asked me to 540 postpone the matters referred to in these Questions, and I have not thought it right to refuse the request put to me, as it was rather forcibly, by the Lord President of the Council. Therefore, I ask leave to put the Questions down again for Wednesday, June 25. On that occasion I shall hope to proceed and endeavour to show the House what grave issues are evoked by a consideration of my third Question particularly.
§ LORD PARMOORMy Lords, I am obliged to the noble Earl for his remarks. I made him an urgent request not to proceed with his Question to-day, and I thank him for not doing so.