asked the President whether it is intended to present a report to the Dáil of the proceedings of the Inter-Imperial Relations Committee of the Imperial Conference.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - INTER-IMPERIAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE.
SEAN O LAIDHIN
The Executive Council proposes to circulate as a White Paper at an early date the report of the Imperial Conference. The Minister for External Affairs will make a statement next week on the work of the Imperial Conference generally and on the work of the Inter-Imperial Relations Committee in particular.
May I ask the President if the Minister will, in his statement, devote some attention to explaining what share, if any, of responsibility for British foreign policy and British military and naval policy is borne by the Saorstát Government, and whether, to take a concrete illustration, the Executive Council accepts any responsibility for British policy in China or for any contemplated military action in that country, apart from the action that may be taken under the Covenant of the League of Nations, and, if so, which Minister will answer to the Dáil?
The MINISTER for EXTERNAL AFFAIRS rose.
Is the question in order?
I think we might leave it until the end of the questions, rather than deal with it now.
The question I was asked dealt with the Imperial Conference and the proceedings at that Conference. I am not aware that China was under discussion there.
Perhaps the President did not appreciate my question. It was whether the Minister would, in making the statement that is promised for next week, devote his attention to that aspect which I have referred to? It might save discussion.
I think I will deal with that. It will probably amount to one brief sentence.