I had intended, on the motion for the adjournment, to ask the leave of the Seanad to raise the question of the Note recently sent to the League of Nations. I do not now intend to raise the question, but ask leave merely to state my reason for not taking that step. My reasons are that, in the first place, a statement was made in the Dáil by the Minister for External Affairs (Mr. Desmond Fitzgerald) to the effect that the Government of the Free State have sent a letter to the League of Nations, and that that letter will be published as soon as it has been received by the League. Naturally it should not be published until it has been received by the League. That letter deals with the British Note, and, in view of the fact that that letter has been sent, it would make it much more difficult for us here to discuss the matter as satisfactorily as if we had the full circumstances before us. A further reason is that the House is so small. The only object of discussing the matter, it seems to me, here would be to strengthen the Government in the position it finds itself in, I do not think that my purpose would be achieved in such a small House as we have at present. In these circumstances, and for the reasons I have given, I do not move the motion.
