IRISH TREATY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 13, 16 January 1930, Page 13

IRISH TREATY

THE PRIVY COUNCIL

QUESTION IN COMMONS

NOTHING OFFICIAL

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, 26th November. In the House of Commons yesterday <|the Marquis of Hartington asked the Prime Minister if he had received any communication from the Government of the Irish Free State to tho effect that it did not intend ia tho future to respect the jurisdiction of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council; and, ■whether he contemplated introducing I legislation to amend the Irish Freo State (Agreement) Act so as to exclude appeals to tho Judicial Committee of tho Privy Council from the Irish Tree State. Sir Kingsley Wood and Sir William Davison had similar • questions on the Order Paper. Mr. Ramsey Mac Donald said that no communication of the nature mentioned had been received from His Majesty's Government in the Irish Tree State. Tho second parts o£ tho question'did not, therefore, arise. Sir Kingsley Wood: "Has not the light hon. gentelemau observed the statement very widely published by the Minister of. the Irish Free State dealing very, extensively with this matter, and practically repudiating any possibility of an appeal from the Irish. Free State to the Privy Council? Mr. Ramsey Mac Donald: "I answer questions here as Prime Minister and iiot as a casual newspaper reader." Tho Marquis of Hartington: "In view of tho reply of tho Prime Minister, Mr. Speaker, may I ask your guidanco as to how a question of 'ibis land, when a responsible Minister of the Irish Free State Government, speaking from his placo in the Senate, made a most formal, definite, and categorical statement that ho intends to repudiate an important part of the JTreaty, and thereby raises an important constitutional point which affects iot only the Irish Free State but this country—l ask you how that can be raised if tho Prime Minister persists in his attitude of sheltering himself by saying that ho has not read the newspapers. The Speaker: "I do not know how that can be raised. The Prime Minister says ho has no official information on tho subject." FREE STATE REPORTS. Sir Kingsley Wood: "But will the right hon. gentleman obtain this information? (Socialist cries of "Why ehould he?") Sir William Davison: "Is the right lon. gentleman awaro that in the official reports of the Irish Free State Parliament notice is given that in future, if any British citizen in the Irish Free State were to obtain a judgment in the Privy Council legislation would ho introduced to deprive him of tho effect of that judgment. Is not that a diroct breach of tho Irish Free State Constitution Act passed by this House?" (Conservative cheers.) Commander Kenworthy: "On a point or order, Mr Speaker, have you not .frequently ruled that debates in dominion Parliaments are not competent to fco discussed in this House?" The Speaker; "I do not see how the Prime Minister can take any action unless ho has official information." Commander Kenworthy: "May I ask your ruling on that point?" . The Speaker -was understood to say' that it would'be difficult to say that he should take " notice of anything that takes place in the Dominion Parliaments. MUST COME OFFICIALLY. Sir ' Austin Chamberlain: '' May I ask a further question, as' the matter is one of great constitutional importance. I am. well aware, Mr Speaker, that you and your predecessors have frequently luled that Ministora here are not responsible for action within the jurisdiction of the Dominion Parliaments, and.that such matters are not proper subjects for question in this House, but wo have to deal with a treaty passed iby this House, and which was a condition of tho establishment of the Free State Government. It is alleged that thero is shown by the official reports of the Irish. Parliament a Ministerial declaration of intention to break that treaty. Is not that a proper tubjeet for question in this. House?" The Speaker: "The Prime Minister fcays he has no official information on this; also, I think, it is a dangerous precedent to discuss such matters in Jthis House which arise in a Dominion ■Parliament. I could not, on tho spur jof the moment, give a ruling on a constitutional question of that kind." Colonel Gretton: "Will the Prime Minister inquire and be prepared to give a considered reply in a few days' time?"

Mr. Eamsay Mac Donald: "It really must be obvious to everybody in the House that it is not my business to make these inquiries, and if any Government, Dominion or otherwise, deeires to make any change in anything •whateve.- or, may I suggest, desires to take any advantage of a certain declaration made whilst the Conservative party was in office, the communication of such intention must come officially to me, or to the Dominions Office, before any action can bo taken, or before any answer can be given definitely So any question in this House."