On Thursday, May 17th, in the House of Commons, the
Chancellor of the Exchequer presented the Indemnity Bill which will relieve the Home Secretary of his responsi- bility for having illegally deported 112 men and_women, to the.Free State. The Bill has only one effective clause : no attempt is made to go into the question of future powers for the Executive with regard to the arrest and internment without trial of persons suspected of murderous conspiracy. The Times reports that several members of the Cabinet • were anxious to seize the opportunity for claiming new powers. We are glad that this ambitious and dangerous plan was rejected. The mere indemni- fying of Ministers is scarcely controversial ; but a Bill dealing with the new powers would have been highly controversial. Many Unionists might have felt themselves bound. to vote against it. As it is, the Bill ought to go through quickly when Parliament reassembles. The major issue which arises out. of the deportations to Ireland requires most careful consideration, and this we are satisfied it will now receive.
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