THE COMMONS DEBATE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11047, 2 November 1921, Page 5

THE COMMONS DEBATE

“DIEHARD'S” MOTION HEAVILY DEFEATED. DEMAND FOR INFORMATION. Oy Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received November 1, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, October 31. TEe Speaker ruled Lord Robert Cecil’s amendment out of order. Colonel Gretton moved a motion condemning the action of the Government in negotiating with the delegates who had taken the oath of allegiance to the Irish Republic, and repudiated the authority of the Crown; further, that no proposals for the government of Southern Ireland should be made without the sanction of Parliament. Colonel Gretton said that the whole country desired to know what was going on as regards the Irish situation. He reviewed events since last autumn, when the Government was vehement in its determination to suppress the rebellion, and he criticised the quateness of the truce for the protection of loyalists. / He printed out that the truce document was actually unsigned. It was plain that the delegates came to the conference in London with a status which they claimed, namely, representatives of the Irish Republic. “INSULT TO THE/ CROWN.” Colonel Gretton said that Mr de Valera’s telegram to the Pope was a defiance to the British Government, and insulting to the Crown. Was the price the Government was prepared to pay to secure the of the Sinn Fein the surrender of two Ulster counties? The Government had made surrender to gangs of assassins by bringing " over representatives of these ■ assassins and murderers to negotiate on equal terms. The -Government bowed its knee to murderers and assassins without consulting, or even informing, the, British people. The latter were not to be terrorised into tearing up the unity of these islands at the dictation of a small gang of men subsidised by foreign money. The conference had practically broken down. The Government was obviously seeking some, pretext on which it should break/down. LABOUR SUPPORTS GOVERNV MENT. Mr Arthur Henderson (Labour) said the - Labour Party was- supporting the Government, because the motion raised issues vital, not only to the nation and the Empire, but to the whole English-speaking race. OSKs party was still opposed to the policy of reprisals followed by the Government during the past few years, but was more strongly in favour of negotiations for peace: PREMIER. LOUDLY CHEERED. When Mr Lloyd George rose there was prolonged cheering. He said that a very grave issue had been raised..lt was clear that a section in the House was full of misgiving. The burden of Colonel Gretton’s speech was that the Government had not shed enough blood. He admitted that there had been breaches of the, truce. They had been Investigated. We received guarantees whioh the Sinn Fein was doing its best to carry out. The group whom he (Colonel Gretton) represented desired peace in Ireland, and that there should be a conference with the representatives of the real Irish people, who were not the authors of the terrorism which had been allowed to grow up. , “GANG OF MURDERERS.” Mr R. S. Gwynne, in seconding the motion, denied the Prime Minister’s statements that the delegates duly elected were representatives of the Irish people. The recent elections were carried out under the coercion of a gang of murderers. Captain Charles Craig said that the Ulster Parliament looked on the conference as one between the Government and the Sinn Fein. They had decided not to take part in a division, provided the Prime Minister assured them that tie necessary powers would be given Ulster to enable it to function- at the earliest possible moment.