§ VISCOUNT HALDANEHas the noble Earl the Secretary of State for India anything to tell us about the course of the debate on the Indian question?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (THE EARL OF BIRKENHEAD)My Lords, I was so anxious to fall in with the wishes of the noble and learned Viscount last night that I assented to what I believed was his proposal—that the general discussion which your Lordships would probably desire should take place (next Tuesday, I think, was the date suggested) upon the Second Reading of the Bill required by the accleration of the date of the appointment of the Commission. Since then I have had the advantage of some discussion with the noble Lord, Lord Olivier, and the view which he put before me is, I think, well founded and logical in this matter. Your Lordships have very great elasticity in the rules of debate and it would no doubt by general consent be possible to hold a debate upon the whole policy of acceleration, of the personnel of the Commission and of the many important and complicated public questions that are raised—by consent, I say, that would be possible upon the Second Reading of the Bill. But upon the whole it would appear to be more logical that we should establish a secure statutory foothold before we took the general debate. If the Bill had not passed both Houses of Parliament such a debate would be, so to speak, in the air, upon 15 a hypothetical foundation. On the whole, therefore, I assent to the view of the noble Lord, Lord Olivier, that we should make every effort in both Houses to pass this Bill very rapidly and then, at the earliest possible date and after consultation with noble Lords, I will put down the Resolution for the appointment of the Commission. I would suggest that the general and important debate should take place upon that Motion; but, of course, if any noble Lord wishes to raise matters of principle upon the question of the acceleration of the date of the appointment of the Commission abundant opportunity will be afforded for such discussion next Tuesday. If noble Lords agree I think that is the more convenient course.
§ LORD OLIVIERMy Lords, I do not think I can take full credit for having originated this suggestion. I thought it was the noble Earl's scrupulousness with regard to Parliamentary procedure that caused him to speak with me on the matter. I entirely agree with him on the Parliamentary aspect of the matter; but I hope there will be no needless delay in getting to the general discussion.
§ THE EARL OF BIRKENHEADCertainly.
§ EARL BEAUCHAMPMy Lords, I regret to say that we have not been consulted in regard to this matter. Consultations seem to have taken place, between the two Front Benches and I regret that no communication has been made to my noble friends. It is quite evident that my noble friend Lord Reading has an experience upon this matter far transcending that of any noble Lord upon the Bench beside me and, if the noble and learned Earl will forgive me for saying so, I think it would have been a little helpful to himself had he taken the trouble to consult my noble friend as to the course of procedure which would be most convenient. Generally speaking, I think we are inclined to do our best to assist the noble and learned Earl in this matter, and, of course, in any case we should not wish to put any difficulties in the way of the procedure of your Lordships' House. I venture, however, to express my regret that my noble friends have not been consulted or we might have been able to give 16 him still further support in addition to that from the noble Lords opposite him.
§ THE EARL OF BIRKENHEADMy Lords, nothing would be more unwelcome to me than that it should be supposed that I treated the noble Earl or the very substantial element in this House of which he is the Leader with any disrespect. As a matter of fact I did see Lord Reading yesterday. I was a little indisposed in the morning and he was good enough to come to see me at my house. I explained to him what my proposals were and that no debate of a kind which would require his presence was likely to take place yesterday, for he had some commitment elsewhere. I had some informal private discussion with the noble Earl, and I am sorry that I omitted to tell him that I had seen the noble Marquess, Lord Reading. I can assure him that there has been no discourtesy and no neglect of the element of the House which he leads.
§ EARL BEAUCHAMPI quite agree with the noble and learned Earl. The question is that there should be no discussion next Tuesday?
§ THE EARL OF BIRKENHEADIf any noble Lord has any other view I am prepared to deal with it now; but my own opinion is that such a general discussion next Tuesday would be inconvenient not only to ourselves but to every section of the House, because we should really be proceeding without a sure statutory foundation. We should be discussing the matter as hypothesis. The elasticity of our rules is such that we could discuss it as hypothesis; but I see no advantage to be gained by that course, and I see considerable disadvantage. Although the noble Lord, Lord Olivier, disclaims the paternity of this proposal I am still not at all sure that it was not he who suggested it.
§ VISCOUNT HALDANEWe are really only discussing questions of time and place.
§ THE EARL OF BIRKENHEADYes.
§ VISCOUNT HALDANESo far as I am concerned I do not think the suggestion of the noble and learned Earl opposite is unreasonable. It would be more convenient to take the discussion on the Resolution. Of course, if there is any 17 question on the Bill itself it is obvious that is open on Tuesday. I only wish to say that I hope the Government will take steps to bring the Bill as speedily as possible before another place so that we may not be hung up regarding the discussion of the Resolution for a very long time. It is obviously on the Resolution that the important question for India has to be discussed in Parliament here. Therefore, it is very undesirable that this discussion should be deferred an indefinite time and I hope that every step will be taken to get the Bill through as quickly as possible.
§ THE EARL OF BIRKENHEADMy Lords, I am very glad that the noble and learned Viscount has made that observation. The Second Reading will be asked of your Lordships next Tuesday. The Committee stage would naturally be taken in the same week, say, on Thursday, and if the noble Earl and the noble Viscount will give us their powerful support we shall be able to send the Bill 18 away from this House at a very early date. The noble Viscount knows well enough that the House of Commons labours under great congestion; but I will at least assure him that I will make every effort to have the Bill dealt with at the earliest possible moment.