asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how many men have been attested for the Royal Irish Constabulary between 1st January, 1920, and 31st May, 1920; how many men have resigned, been dismissed or discharged without gratuity during the same period; and how many have retired on pension or been discharged on gratuity during the same period?

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the number of resignations from the Royal Irish Constabulary and Dublin Metropolitan Police from the 15th April to the 15th June, 1919 and 1920, respectively?

The figures asked for by the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) are as follow:— Number of men attested for Royal Irish Constabulary between 1st January and 31st May, 1920 1,504 Number who resigned during same period 334 Number who were dismissed or discharged without gratuity during same period 40 Number who have retired on pension or have been discharged on gratuity during same period 187 The figures asked for by the hon. and gallant Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Lieut.-Colonel Guinness) are as follows:— Resignations of Dublin Metropolitan Police in period 15th April to 15th June, 1919 1 Resignations corresponding period in 1920 41 The resignation in 1919 and 8 of the resignations in 1920 were retirements on pension.

Royal Irish Constabulary statistics are not available for the period commencing 15th April, but the following figures for the period commencing 1st April and ending 1st June are given:— Number of resignations in Royal Irish Constabulary 1st April, 1919, to 1st June, 1919 17 Number for corresponding period in 1920 235 These two police forces have served gallantly during a most difficult and trying time, and I feel sure the House will agree they command our admiration and support. The Government is determined to give every support to these officers in the discharge of their duties.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how soon the ex-members of the Royal Irish Constabulary will receive increases in their pensions?

Increases of pension for which any ex-members of the Royal Irish Constabulary may be eligible under the scheme proposed in the case of pre-War State pensioners generally cannot be granted until the necessary legislation has been obtained, but it is hoped that the Bill which has now been drafted for this purpose will be introduced at a very early date. As regards ex-members of the force who retired on or after the 1st April, 1919, and whose pensions admit of revision under the Royal Irish Constabulary Pensions (Interim) Order, 1920, the necessary steps to effect revision are being taken in all such cases, and there will be no avoidable delay in notifying pensioners of the revised awards, and in making payments accordingly.

Will the first class to which the right hon. Gentleman referred be dealt with in the British Bill, or will there be a special Bill for Ireland?

I think it will be dealt with in the general Bill.

Will the right hon. Gentleman do his best, seeing that this matter is really very urgent, to get the Bill brought in, and passed as soon as possible?

Certainly. I take a personal interest in it.

Will it cover pensioners under the 1883 Act?

I think so.

asked the ChiefSecretary for Ireland the number of men of the Royal Irish Constabulary who have applied to transfer from Munster counties into other parts of Ireland during the last year, and who have been refused, in spite of their having completed the regulation period of five years' service in Munster?

The carrying out of this regulation is dependent on the exigencies of the service, and in existing conditions it cannot be carried out in many instances, the number of which cannot be ascertained without much trouble and loss of valuable time.

In the ordinary course are men being transferred, where possible, at the end of five years, and does the right hon. Gentleman realise that there is a good deal of dissatisfaction among the men at being kept in this very disorderly district, and that they feel that they are being treated as if they were on active service and were being left indefinitely in the front line?

Unfortunately the reason they are kept there is that the district is disorderly.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland why the officers and men of the Dublin Metropolitan Police are not eligible for the medal granted for valour and bravery which is awarded in suitable cases to the officers and men of the Royal Irish Contabulary; and what medal can be given to members of the Dublin Metropolitan Police?

Members of both the Royal Irish Constabulary and Dublin Metropolitan Police are eligible for the King's Police Medal. In addition, members of the Royal Irish Constabulary are eligible for the Constabulary Medal which is awarded for pre-eminent valour and bravery. The case of the Dublin Metropolitan Police has been under consideration, and it has been decided that members of that force should have an equal opportunity of earning recognition of special courageous action. An announcement on the subject will be made very shortly.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has yet received recent official information to the effect that Sinn Fein volunteers have seized 20 rifles at the house of Mr. Watson, Beech Park, near Lurgan; whether the police are making inquiries; and whether proceedings are to be instituted against this gentleman for the possession of these arms?

I have nothing to add to the reply given by me to the previous question asked by my hon. and gallant Friend on this subject on Thursday last.

May I ask whether inquiries are being made—which the right hon. Gentleman was unable to tell me last Thursday—and, if not, whether they will be made; and whether the law as regards possessing firearms is going to be applied impartially in Ireland or not?

May I ask whether, if the statements contained in this question be true, the right hon. Gentleman will have the Sinn Feiners prosecuted, firstly, for robbery with violence, secondly, for having illegal firearms in their possession; and may I ask, lastly, whether my hon. and gallant Friend (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) has not discovered a gigantic mare's nest?

I have already informed my hon. and gallant Friend that I have made inquiries and can find no evidence to support the statement made. As regards the other part of the question, all these cases in which arms are found in houses are submitted to me, and I invariably, without regard to politics or religion or personal feeling, have directed prosecutions—in many cases against Unionists.

Is there no truth at all in the Press statements about the raid on this house by Sinn Feiners, or the seizure of arms?

The question I was asked, and which I dealt with, was as to the possibility of a prosecution against the gentleman referred to. I have already informed my hon. and gallant Friend that I can find no evidence to sustain a charge.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that this case was included in the official list of outrages published by Dublin Castle? [HON. MEMBERS: "Order, order!"] Do not you want to hear the truth? Obviously not.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what progress has been made by the Irish Health Council; and whether they have yet made any Report as to the improvement of health conditions in Ireland?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the Report of the Public Health Council on the Public Health and Medical Services in Ireland, which was presented to the House on the 14th instant.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether any of the assailants of the ex-soldier who was dragged out of bed at Fenit, County Kerry, on 10th June, and then tarred and feathered, have been arrested; and can he state what was the cause of the crime?

The cause of the outrage so far as can be ascertained was that Sheehy had been in the Army, and was in the habit of associating with police. No arrests have been made as Sheehy did not know any of the party who attacked him.

What evidence has the hon. and learned Gentleman for making that statement?

Sad experience!

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if there is any co-ordination between the military and police in Ireland as to prevention of outrages?

The answer is in the affirmative. The co-ordination is steadily improving.

asked the Attorney-General for Ireland what is the maximum penalty which can be inflicted for shooting at the police in Ireland; and whether his attention has been called to the sentence on Patrick Nee, on 14th June, at Galway, to three months' imprisonment on a charge of shooting at the police by night at Maam Cross?

The maximum penalty if the police were fired at with intent to murder would be penal servitude for life. This prisoner was tried before two resident magistrates, and obviously they came to the conclusion that there was no intent.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if the various resident magistrates in Ireland have been informed of the respective Divisional Commissioners who are in supreme control; and, if not, who is supposed to act in any emergency?

The resident magistrates are, in respect of administrative matters, under the control of the Lord Lieutenant, and as they have no executive duties connected with the Royal Irish Constabulary, they have not been officially notified of the appointment of Divisional Commissioners. The Divisional Commissioners have no control over the resident magistrates, and they are themselves magistrates for the counties under their charge, though they do not exercise judicial functions. The Divisional Commissioners may, therefore, act as magistrates in any emergency, except in regard to judicial matters.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can now say when there is likely to be a Second Reading of the Irish Education Bill; whether he is aware of the discontent among the teachers at the Government's delay in proceeding with the Bill; and whether, in the event of the Bill not receiving a Second Reading before the Recess, the Government is prepared to meet the financial claims of the teachers, who, in many instances, are reduced to serious monetary conditions by reason of this delay?

Discussions upon the Bill are still proceeding with parties interested in Ireland, and I am not at the moment in a position to make any further statement on the subject. The question of the remuneration of teachers is being dealt with on a provisional basis apart from the Bill, and a definite announcement of substantial concession has already been made.

Is the hon. Gentleman prepared to receive a deputation of primary and secondary teachers from Ireland who are interested in this matter, as it is causing great discontent?

Does not the delay in introducing the Bill tend to increase the feeling of unrest in Ireland?

I am quite prepared to receive a deputation; but I would suggest to the hon. Member (Mr. McGuffin) that the more appropriate course would be to approach the Chief Secretary. With respect to the question put by the hon. Member (Sir P. Magnus), the Prime Minister will make a statement later.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, in view of the condition of affairs in Ireland, and particularly from the military point of view, the Government are prepared to accept the assistance of loyal volunteers to aid in the restoration of law and order in Ireland; and whether in this connection the Government has received an offer from the Ulster Ex-Service Men's Association to place at its disposal 3,000 trained officers and men who, in view of their special knowledge of the country and their loyalty to the Crown, would be of signal service at the present time in dealing with the disloyal forces in Ireland?

The offer referred to by the hon. Member has been received, and is being carefully considered by the Government.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the statement issued by the Incorporated Association of Assistant Masters in Secondary Schools in Ireland, which states that only 12 such teachers are in receipt of £300 per annum; that 212 such teachers receive salaries under £200; that over 260 receive salaries under £160; that 150 have salaries under £120; that the teaching profession in Ireland is being denuded of most of its best men; and whether, in view of the grave menace which this causes to Irish educational interests, he will see that immediate steps are taken to put secondary teachers in Ireland on an equivalent financial position to that of such teachers in England and Scotland?

asked the Prime Minister whether he has seen a statement issued by the Ulster Headmasters' Association complaining of the delay in dealing with secondary education in Ireland; whether he is aware that, owing to the action of the Government in not proceeding with the Irish Education Bill, secondary teachers are heavily penalised; and whether he is in a position to say when Irish secondary teachers will receive similar treatment to that accorded secondary teachers in Great Britain?

asked the Prime Minister if his attention has been drawn to a resolution passed by Irish school teachers protesting against the continued withholding of the grants admittedly owing to Irish education; and, seeing that no provision has been made in the Education Estimates of the current year, will the Government bring in a supplementary estimate in order to place Irish teachers in a position equal to that conferred upon the teachers of Great Britain under the Education Acts of 1918?

asked the Prime Minister whether he is now in a position to state when the Government propose to deal with the question of education in Ireland; whether he is aware that Irish teachers, in order to enjoy their own advantages, are leaving Ireland for this country owing to their benefits being withheld in Ireland; and whether he is aware that over 100,000 children are without school accommodation in Ireland?

I am well aware of the unsatisfactory salaries paid to Irish teachers, but the House knows that the difference in this respect between Ireland and Great Britain is that in Great Britain the local authorities bear a large part of the burden. It is for that reason the Government have introduced the Irish Education Bill, which will be proceeded with as soon as time can be found for it in this House.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the claim made by these teachers, primary and secondary, is entirely dissociated from the question of local taxation and is based upon the equivalent grant, and that that grant is being withheld?

Any claim of that kind, of course, will be considered. All the same, the funds at the disposal of the education authorities in Ireland are less than those available for the same purpose in England, Scotland and Wales because the local authorities here rate themselves and in Ireland they do not rate themselves.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the reason why Ireland is not rated is that the Government will not pass the Bill, although we are quite willing to be rated?

I notice that my hon. Friend did not listen to the second part of my answer. I stated that that was the reason why the Government introduced the Bill, and why they propose to proceed with it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Government promised £97,000 in respect of secondary education and £300,000 in respect of primary education, and that neither of these sums has been paid? That is my question.

That will be considered. I could not answer straight away without some notice.

If that be so, will the right hon. Gentleman see that justice is done?

asked the Prime Minister whether assurances have been given to the Roman Catholic bishops in Ireland that the Government do not intend to proceed with the Irish Education Bill; and whether, in view of the urgency of educational reforms in Ireland, he will state the intentions of the Cabinet in this matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The great pressure of Parliamentary business is responsible for the delay.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that negotiations have been going on, that while they are in progress tens of thousands of children cannot find school accommodation and that thousands of teachers are being half starved?

I am not aware of any negotiations that are going on.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the learned Attorney-General a few minutes ago announced that the Bill has been postponed because negotiations were going on in Ireland?

I did not know.

This Bill has been down for almost six months for Second Reading. Will the right hon. Gentleman state the reason why the Government will not proceed with this absolutely necessary Measure?

My hon. Friend has been long enough here to know that there are a good many other Bills which are also necessary. You cannot run them all simultaneously. It is necessary to make some sort of selection.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has been able to ascertain how far the representatives of Irish railway employés with whom he was able to discuss last week the future relationship of Ireland and Great Britain represented the views held by the great mass of Ulster railway employés; and can he say how and by whom the delegation was chosen?

I have no information as to whether the views of Ulster employés were represented.

They were misrepresented.

( by Private Notice ) asked the Attorney-General for Ireland whether there is any news to-day from Londonderry to communicate to the House?

Five hundred men of the Norfolk Regiment arrived yesterday afternoon. Desultory firing mainly from housetops continued during the night. Wounded civilians who were being conveyed in ambulances by troops were fired on. The troops returned fire, with what result is not known. The city was quieter this morning. General Carter-Campbell is in Derry and General Tudor is on his way there to ensure fullest possible co-operation between civil and military authorities. The curfew regulation was applied last night until further order.

Who is in command in Derry? Are the civil authorities in command or the military authorities?

The military authorities.

How many soldiers have been wounded?

I cannot give the Noble Lord the information he desires, but have no report of any soldiers being wounded up to the present.

Has the disarmament of the civil population in Derry been begun?

The disarmament of the disloyal portion of the population has always been proceeding in Derry.

May I ask to what portion of the population the right hon. Gentleman refers as the disloyal portion?

The portion that are not applying to the Government for permission to keep arms.

May I ask whether the military will have full discretion to take such steps as they think fit?

Yes, absolutely.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what progress has been made up to date under the Irish Land (Provision for Sailors and Soldiers) Act, 1919?

Under the Irish Land (Provision for Sailors and Soldiers) Act, 1919, which enables the Estates Commissioners to acquire untenanted land for the provision of agricultural holdings for ex-service men, the Commissioners have made offers to purchase some 4,200 acres, and their offers have been accepted in respect of some 750 acres, but the proceedings have not yet sufficiently advanced in these cases to take possession of the lands. In respect of 870 acres for which their offers have not been accepted, compulsory proceedings have been instituted by the Commissioners.. In addition, the Commissioners are negotiating for and making inquiries as regards other lands. The Local Government Board have now almost completed thirty-five schemes for the provision of cottages and plots for 716 ex-service men. They have also undertaken to purchase by agreement about 100 acres of land for the purpose of some of the above schemes.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any ex-service men have been yet settled on the land in Ireland?

No, Sir; but I will inquire about that.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any information as to where this land is in Ireland—in what province?

Has the right hon. Gentleman any information which will go to show that the Sinn Fein party will allow the ex-service men to take possession of such land?

The Noble Lord should give notice of that question.

asked the Prime Minister if he will state the anticipated number of vacancies in the permanent Civil Service in the current financial year and the proportion that it is intended to allot to ex-service men temporarily employed in the Civil Service?

All Departments are at present revising their permanent establishments in the light of post-War requirements, and it is impossible to state at the moment what the number of permanent vacancies will be. As regards the appointment of ex-service men, I beg to refer to the answer given to the hon. and gallant Member for Chelsea on the 22nd June.

Will the Prime Minister consider the advisability of discontinuing the permanent examinations for the Civil Service until such time as all these temporary ex-service men who are competent are absorbed?

Has the Committee to inquire into this subject been already set up, and if not when will it be?

I hope that it will set up immediately.

asked the Prime Minister to state the approximate number of Civil servants permanently employed under the age of 40 who did not serve overseas during the recent war and are in receipt of salaries of £800 per annum or more; and whether he will consider the advisability of replacing them by such ex-service men as would have occupied positions of equal responsibility if they had not been indispensable elsewhere?

The collection of the information desired would not only involve a great amount of detailed labour, but would not in my opinion furnish any useful result. Every effort has been made and will continue to be made, both Departmentally and by special machinery of inter-departmental transfer, to secure that the interests of Civil servants are in no way prejudiced on account of their absence on military service.

Will the right hon. Gentleman not allow the House to decide as to the desirability or otherwise of this proposal? Does he not realise that many Members of this House think it is most important that information of this kind should be published?

asked the Minister of Labour when he expects to be able to publish the new regulations affecting grants to trainees and the extension of the time in which an application can be made for a grant to the Civil Liabilities Department?

The new regulations dealing with grants to trainees and the extension of the time in which an application for a grant can be made to the Civil Liabilities Department are now in the hands of the printer, and copies will be distributed to all Local Employment Exchanges and Local War Pensions Committees as soon as available. I will send my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he is responsible for the Civil Liabilities Department, and, if so, since what date; what are its powers and duties; and what is the number and cost of the official staff, giving the central and each district total separately, for each year since the creation of the Department?

(2) whether the Civil Liabilities Department, up to August last, was administered by a group of officials drawn from the Treasury and Local Government staff; whether the Department has since been re-organised and placed in charge of a number of ex-officers demobilised from St. Ermin's Hotel and elsewhere, the original staff having been dismissed; and whether he is aware that the administration of this Department is giving occasion to dissatisfaction on the score of incompetence and extravagance?

As the answer to these two questions is very lengthy, per- haps the hon. Member will allow me to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The following is the reply promised:

The responsibility for the Civil Liabilities Department was formally transferred from the Local Government Board to the Ministry of Labour on the 1st April, 1919. Its powers and duties are to administer schemes under regulations approved by the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury for providing assistance towards meeting serious financial hardship caused to officers and men whilst serving in His Majesty's Forces, and to assist discharged and demobilised officers and men to resettle in civil life where, on account of their service in the Forces, they are now faced with serious financial hardship.

The cost of the whole staff of the Civil Liabilities Department for each financial year since the inception of the Department is as follows:— Administration Expenses. Grants made. Percentage of Administration Expenses to Grants made. 1916–17 … 59,293 806,843 7.2 1917–18 … 114,790 3,245,791 3.5 1918–19 … 87,895 4,171,855 2.0 1919–20 … 109,092 3,405,727 3.2

It should be observed that these figures are for the financial year ending 31st March, and therefore the final figure for 1919–20 includes expenditure both before and after the re-organisation of the Department to which my hon. Friend refers in Question 106. It should be noted, further, that the percentage of administration expenses, while higher than in the year 1918–19, is lower than in the two preceding years, although the Department was called upon during 1919ߝ20 to deal with the exceptional volume of work case upon it by the Resettlement Scheme which came into operation following upon demobilisation.

It is the fact that until November of last year, not August, as stated in my hon. Friend's question, the officers immediately controlling the Civil Liabilities Department were loaned to the Ministry of Labour by the Ministry of Health. The Civil Liabilities Department was re-organised in November, and in appointing officers to take control the men best suited for the work were chosen. It is not the fact that the whole of the original staff was dismissed. A proportion of the headquarters staff was retained. But the opportunity was taken to dispense with the services of a large number of Commissioners in the country who had been originally appointed on a part-time basis.

With regard to the last part of the question, I am satisfied that very great improvement indeed in the administration has followed the re-organisation. As a matter of fact, as I said yesterday, when Captain McClellan—the Controller—took over, he found himself faced with other 70,000 arrears. By dint of the greatest industry and careful re-organisation, he has now cleared these off, and is in a position to take up current applications as they arise. My hon. Friend will, I am sure, appreciate what this means to the people at the other end of the line.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Report of the Nile Projects Commission, formed to inquire into the charges made by Sir William Willcocks and Colonel Kennedy against Sir Murdoch MacDonald, has been received; and whether this Report will be circulated as a Command Paper?

The Nile Projects Commission was appointed by the Egyptian Government to investigate the technical soundness of the projects and the proper incidence of their cost as between Egypt and the Sudan rather than to inquire into personal charges which are incidental. Their report has not yet been received, and consequently I am unable to reply to the latter part of the question.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is the intention of the Government to undertake and carry through the reform of the House of Lords within the tenure of the present Parlia- ment and before another General Election?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Prime Minister whether the town of Bozanti has been captured by Turkish Nationalists; whether there was a large dump of ex-German ammunition and stores concentrated there; whether this was there when the town was in British occupation; and, if so, why it was not dstroyed before being handed over?

Soon after the Armistice a small detachment of British and Indian engineers was sent to Bozanti in order to keep the railway line working; but this railway was shortly afterwards handed over to the French, and subsequently remained within the French sphere of occupation. A British brigade was for a time lent to the French to assist them in Cilicia. Field-Marshal Lord Allenby relinquished command over this area as from November, 1919, when the situation did not necessitate the destruction of this dump, which consisted largely of discarded railway and mechanical transport material. It is not known what steps General Gourand may have taken to destroy it since he assumed responsibility for the area in question.

asked the Prime Minister when the mandates for Togoland, Cameroons, and Tanganyika Territory will be drafted, and who by; and whether any representation regarding the terms for the mandates for these territories from persons interested in the development of these territories should be addressed to him or to which Department of the Government?

The terms of the mandates under which the Togoland, Cameroons, and Tanganyika Territories will be held are under consideration by the Drafting Committee which is attached to the Conference of Ambassadors in Paris. Representations concerning them can be addressed to the Foreign Office and the Colonial Office, but I would ask hon. Members to bear in mind that the terms of these mandates in their general lines have already been fixed by Article 22 of the Treaty of Versailles.

Does the right hon. Gentleman say that the terms of the mandate have been settled by the Peace Conference, or should they be referred to the League of Nations Council?

I said that the general terms have been fixed by the Treaty of Versailles. One draft will be submitted to the League of Nations.

That is to say, the draft is being prepared, not by the League of Nations at all?

Will the Prime Minister consider the desirability of publishing the draft of the mandate before the terms are finally settled by the Council of the League, in the same way that the Covenant was published before the terms were accepted?

I will consider that.

Will the terms be embodied in a Bill to be presented to the House?

It will not be necessary to have a Bill.

asked whether the Council of the League of Nations has discussed the question how the cost of administering mandated territories is to be met; if so, whether any general principles have been formulated?

As far as I am aware, the answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Prime Minister whether local authorities have been requested to take suitable action to assist in securing recruits for the Territorial Army; and, if so, whether he can see his way to request them also to take suitable action to popularise the idea of the League of Nations?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I do not think that the hon. Member's proposal is practicable.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can state when it is proposed to invite Germany to become a member of the League of Nations?

Germany will be invited to become a member of the League of Nations when she shows an earnest desire to carry out her obligations under the Peace Treaty.

Has not the right hon. Gentleman already stated in this House that Germany is making every effort to carry out these obligations?

No, I certainly did not, not with regard to disarmament. I have a very strong feeling on that subject that she is not.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Minister for War has stated repeatedly in this House that Germany is doing all she can in that direction?

No.

asked the Prime Minister whether Poland has informed the Supreme Council of her intention to occupy German territory should Germany fail to carry out her engagement with the Poles; and, if so, whether he can see his way to referring the matter to the Council of the League of Nations, as being one which endangers the peace of the world?

I have no information in regard to the first part of the hon. Gentleman's question. The second part does not, therefore, arise.

asked whether the League of Nations, in its reply to the invitation of the Supreme Council that it should undertake the mandate for Armenia, stated that it would endeavour to find a mandatory, but that in order to have some hope of success it must first have assurances from the Supreme Council as to the military question, the financial question, and the question of Aremenia's access to the sea; and, if so, why the Supreme Council did not act on the recommendations of the League?

The reply of the Council of the League of Nations to the Supreme Council was to the effect that, while they were entirely in favour of the mandate for Armenia being entrusted to one of the Powers, they would hesitate to sound the Powers as to their willingness to accept it without knowing more of the intention of the Supreme Council on certain fundamental points, namely, the military question, the financial question, and the question of Armenia's access to the sea, which is part of the general question of the frontiers of Armenia on which President Wilson has been asked to adjudicate. There has been no question of disregarding the recommendations of the League.

Have any further communications passed between the Supreme Council and the Council of the League with reference to the mandate for Armenia?

We have communicated from San Remo to the Council of the League the decision arrived at with regard to the United States of America.

Since then I understand that America has definitely declined the mandate. I do not know whether that is so or not. Has any further attempt been made? Perhaps I had better put down a question?

I am not at all sure. Speaking from memory, I do not think that America has officially declined.

Will the Prime Minister explain how the League of Nations is to function, without pounds, shillings or pence, horse, foot, or artillery?

That is a matter which can be raised in the course of Debate.

asked the Prime Minister whether the British missions with General Wrangel have yet been withdrawn?

The withdrawal of the British mission with General Wrangel is now in progress, and is expected to be completed shortly.

asked the Prime Minister if he can state whether General Wrangel has transported any of his troops in the recent offensive by water; and whether any British shipping was used for this purpose, or any protection given by the British Navy?

It is understood that General Wrangel transported some of his troops for the recent offensive by water. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

Was not there a naval force present at the time of transportation in or near those waters?

What shipping was this?

It was not British shipping.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now give definite information to allay the anxiety of their relatives, with reference to the officers and men captured and held as slaves at Baku; can he state whether regular and up-to-date information is available; whether the fate of the officers and men has formed the subject of any of the conferences with Krassin; and whether, if satisfactory information is not immediately forthcoming, negotiations with Krassin will be discontinued and his presence, and that of other Bolsheviks in any capacity whatever, will not be tolerated in this country except as prisoners under the same conditions as our men are reported to be?

I would refer my Noble Friend to the reply given on this subject by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House on Monday last.

With respect to the latter part of my question, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that very grave anxiety is felt by the relatives of all these men?

Yes. It is very natural, and I can assure my Noble Friend that the Government realises that, and we are doing our best.

Is it not possible to get some definite information on this subject, before you begin to talk about trading with the people who are treating our men in this way?

That is what we have in mind. I have answered a question before on the subject. We are pressing this particular point.

asked the Prime Minister what is the position of negotiations with M. Krassin; has any preliminary agreement been reached upon which negotiations are to proceed; and, if so, will he state what has been agreed?

The negotiations with M. Krassin are proceeding, but have not yet been concluded. I hope shortly to be able to make a statement to the House on the subject.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether there is any truth in the statement that he has imposed entirely new conditions in this matter?

I do not think it would be desirable at this stage to say anything, and the House will realise the reason why.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when he will be able to make a statement?

I hope next week. I may tell the House that the responsibility for delay does not rest with the Government.

asked the Prime Minister what is the date of the expiration of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance; is it intended to renew it; and will the terms of the new alliance be registered with the secretariat of the League of Nations before ratification by His Majesty's Government?

With regard to the first part of the question, I have to refer the hon. and gallant Member to Article VI. of the Agreement of 13th July, 1911, between the United Kingdom and Japan. With regard to the second part of the question, I must refer to the reply given on the 3rd instant to the hon. Member for Lincoln. In answer to the third part of the question, I have to repeat the assurance given on the 10th instant to the hon. and gallant Member for East Leyton—namely, that His Majesty's Government have every intention of adhering strictly to Article XVIII. of the Covenant of the League of Nations.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government will consider the feeling that the Anglo-Japanese Alliance should not be renewed for a term of years before the British Government has been able to have the full advantage of understanding the views and desires of the new Government which will come into power in the United States next March?

The question of the renewal of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, which by Article VI. of the Treaty cannot expire till 13th July, 1921, is under consideration. His Majesty's Government are not unaware of the feeling to which the hon. and gallant Member draws attention, but they are not in a position at the present moment to make any public statement on the subject.

Have the Government decided to give notice in July next, or to allow it to go on for another year?

That has not been decided.

Cannot the views of China be taken into consideration?

We shall take all relevant considerations into account.

Will the Treaty be put before the House, as was done in the case of the Anglo-American Convention?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is the intention of the Government to renew the Anglo-Japanese Treaty; if so, will he take steps to see that the Clauses in that Treaty dealing with the free importation of manufactured silk goods are more equitable to the manufacturers of this country; and will he give an undertaking that free importation of any goods will only be promised in exchange for free importation of British manufactures into Japan?

The question of the renewal of the Treaty of Commerce and Navigation of 3rd April, 1911, between Great Britain and Japan has not yet come up for consideration. As the hon. Member will see by reference to Article XXVJI of the Treaty in question, the earliest date at which it can expire is 16th July, 1923.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that during the 12 months ending 31st August, 1914, 200,000 standard barrels of beer paid ã80,000 duty; that during the 12 months ending 31st March, 1920, 130,000 such barrels paid £450,000 duty, the Income Tax figures for the same periods comparing as £4,500 compares with £26,000; and whether, in view of these figures, how long the Government proposes to continue the present rates of duty and restrictive regulations, and to continue in operation the Central Control Board?

During the 12 months ending 31st August, 1914, there was a uniform rate of duty of 7s. 9d. the standard barrel on beer brewed in the United Kingdom; hence the duty payable on 200,000 standard barrels would be £77,500. During the year ending 31st March, 1920, two rates of duty were in force, namely, 50s. the standard barrel from 1st to 30th April, 1919, and 70s. the standard barrel from 1st May, 1919, to 31st March, 1920. Assuming that one-twelfth of the 130,000 standard barrels mentioned in the question was brewed each month, the duty for the year would be £444,000. As regards the last part of the question, I can add nothing to what has already been said on this subject.

Can the right hon. Gentleman not see that this is a very crushing duty to pay, and that its incidence affords ground for speedily dealing with the difficulty to which I refer in the latter part of the question?

I think the hon. Member will find it difficult to produce evidence that this burden is crushing the industry.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that in some districts, notably in Somerset, licensed premises are open during the pre-War hours, while others within a few hundred. yards on the north-west corner of Dorset in a controlled area are restricted to six-and-a-half hours a day; and whether, in view of the continued delay in abolishing the Central Control Board and in introducing the promised Licensing Bill, he will take steps to place all licence-holders on the same footing as regards hours of trading?

I am aware that differentiation of hours exists between areas which are scheduled for the purposes of the Liquor Control Regulations and other areas, but there is general agreement that, so far as scheduled areas are concerned, a complete return to pre-War hours would be undesirable, and the scheduled hours applicable to scheduled areas cannot be made applicable to unscheduled areas without legislation. At present some differentiation appears inevitable.

May I ask whether it is true that the Chairman of the Central Control Board is to be our next Ambassador in Berlin?

asked what is the Government's policy with regard to the funding of the floating debt?

The policy of the Government is to seize any suitable opportunity for funding the floating debt, and in the meantime to endeavour to pay off a portion of it.

Will the floating debt be funded entirely by seizing every opportunity? Is there no more practical scheme?

I do not quite understand my hon. and gallant Friend. We hope to pay off some of the floating debt from the surplus provided by the new taxation as explained in my Budget speech.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state what was the total amount of the floating debt outstanding on Saturday last; and what was the total subscription to the Treasury Bonds to that date?

The floating debt on Saturday, 19th June, was £1,291,314,000, and the Exchequer receipts from Treasury Bonds £7,385,000. As I have already informed the hon. Member on several occasions, he has occupied the time of the House in asking for the restatement of information which is published weekly in the newspapers.

Whilst thanking the right hon. Gentleman, may I ask whether he is entirely satisfied with the Government scheme for funding the debt?

That is a question which the hon. Member has put to me on each occasion on which he has asked for a repetition of figures which had already appeared.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that this is the right place in which to give information of vital importance to the country, as well as in the Press?

To me it seems a pity to waste question time, which hon. Members complain is not enough, in order to ask for information which has already been published, and is published weekly in the Press.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that some useful purpose is served by bringing to the notice of the Members present the state of our finances?

asked whether it is proposed to allow the export of oil from Mesopotamia freely to all countries, or whether it is proposed to impose an Excise Duty on oil other than that exported to certain countries?

No proposals to impose discriminatory duties of the nature suggested have been made, but such matters will be decided by the administration of Mesopotamia when constituted.

asked whether the office of Comptroller of the Issues of His Majesty's Exchequer still exists; and, if so, who occupies it?

Sir Henry Gibson, K.C.B., is Comptroller-General of the Receipt and Issue of His Majesty's Exchequer and Auditor-General of Public Accounts.

asked when the last step in the direction of bringing the ex-Kaiser to trial was taken; and what was the nature of it?

The Lord Privy Seal made a statement in the House on the 19th April as to the course of the negotiations with the Netherlands Government relative to the extradition of the ex-Emperor. I have nothing to add to that statement.

Have no steps been taken since then?

No steps have been taken. The Netherlands Government refused to hand him over.

Then this is the finish of the talk about hanging the Kaiser?

I am afraid that your friend is not quite safe yet.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can yet say whether the Report of the Wireless Telegraphy Committee will be made available to the House and the public?

It is hoped that the Report will be issued in the course of a few days.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Committee of Imperial Defence has been summoned to meet in the near future; and what was the date of the last full meeting?

It is hoped to have a meeting next week.