HL Deb 09 October 1924 vol 59 cc683-4
LORD AMPTHILL

My Lords, I beg leave to ask His Majesty's Government whether the Government of the Irish Free State has taken, or is taking, any steps to carry out its obligations under Articles 5 and 8 of the Schedule attached to the Irish Free State (Agreement) Act, 1922, and, if not, whether His Majesty's Government propose to take any action to secure the fulfilment of these important obligations?

LORD ARNOLD

My Lords, I would remind the noble Lord that under Article 5 of the Articles of Agreement the amount of the liability to be assumed by the Irish Free State for Debt and War Pensions is to be determined by agreement, or, in default of agreement, by arbitration. No sum has yet been determined in pursuance of the Article, and His Majesty's Government intend to take up the question in due course. As regards Article 8 His Majesty's Government has no reason to believe that the military forces for which provision is made by the Government of the Irish Free State exceed the proportion laid down in that Article.

House adjourned during pleasure.

House resumed.