HC Deb 03 June 1881 vol 262 cc21-4
MR. GORST

I wish to ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, Whether the proceedings which have recently taken place at Quinlan Castle, near New Pallas, do not amount to a declaration of war against Her Majesty; and, if so, whether the persons taking part in it are not guilty of high treason?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr LAW)

I regret that the hon. and learned Gentleman did not put his Question on the Paper. It must depend upon the facts of the case whether the proceedings amounted, even technically, to treason.

LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL

I wish to ask the Government this Question. Is it or is it not the case that Quinlan Castle, near New Pallas, has been occupied by a body of tenantry for a period of now nearly a week; that they have broken down the bridges which lead up to the place, and that they have successfully resisted the combined forces of military and police; and, whether a military detachment did not leave Dublin yesterday for the purpose of capturing the Castle?

MR. PARNELL

I wish to ask, whether the occupation of Quinlan Castle, referred to by the noble Lord, does not consist of the occupation by an old woman, who many years ago built her cabin under or within the walls of the Castle, and has continued in occupation ever since?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. LAW)

I regret that I cannot offer any legal opinion upon the subject. [Lord RANDOLPH CHURCHILL: It is a question of fact.] There is a considerable variation as to the facts of the case. On the one hand, the place has been described as being occupied by a considerable armed force; and, on the other, as being occupied by an old woman. As I have no official informa- tion on the subject, I must decline to give an answer.

SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE

Sir, I do not understand entirely from the answer of the Attorney General for Ireland whether the Government have taken any steps to ascertain what the facts are. These reports have been going in circulation for several days, and the Government must, I should think, have taken steps to satisfy themselves as to their correctness.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. LAW)

I have no doubt that the Government in Ireland are in possession of all the facts and circumstances, and are taking every step necessary for dealing with them. [Cries of "This House!"] For myself, I have no official information on the subject, and cannot, therefore, give any more satisfactory answer. [Cries of "Oh!"]

MR. RITCHIE

Has the Irish Executive asked for any information?

LORD JOHN MANNERS

I beg leave to ask the Home Secretary, who, I believe, has some responsibility for Irish affairs, whether he has made any inquiry into this very serious state of things; and, if he has not done so, whether he will do so without any further loss of time?

MR. A. M. SULLIVAN

May I ask if hon. Members really know what this so-called castle is? [Cries of "Order!"] I will put myself in Order by asking the Government if they are aware that it consists of a couple of parts of walls which formerly were part of a castle, of which otherwise only the name remains?

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT

I know that my Predecessor in Office did lay down the doctrine last Session that I was constitutionally responsible for the government of Ireland. In one sense that is true; in another sense it is not perfectly accurate. The right hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well that the Home Secretary is only the medium of communication between the Sovereign and the Lord Lieutenant, and he also knows that the details of the administration of Ireland do not pass through the Home Office. Therefore I do not think that the noble Lord can seriously suppose that I am the proper source of information with regard to the details of the administration of the Executive in Ireland. But, in answer to the appeal of the noble Lord, I certainly will make it my business to ascertain what are the facts of the case.

MR. TOTTENHAM

I beg to give Notice that on the 9th instant, on going into Committee of Supply, I will call attention to the -whole proceedings of the Land League in Ireland and move a Resolution.

EARL PERCY

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, whether he considers that it is for the interest of the Public Service, in a matter of such vital importance as that just mentioned, that Her Majesty's Government should be without any information as to the nature of the castle, or as to the proceedings which have taken place there, and should be unable in any way to allay the public anxiety as to the state of Ireland?

COLONEL BARNE

I put a Question to the Chief Secretary for Ireland on this matter a few days ago, and the right hon. Gentleman said he would reply to it more fully in his speech. He said that the matter was looked upon very seriously in that part of Ireland, and I think in his absence it is only right that some Member of the Government should be able to give the House some information.

MR. GLADSTONE

I frankly own that I am not in a position to judge of the importance of the subject. I have no doubt that the noble Lord (Earl Percy) is aware that the practice is always for the Government to trust to the local authorities—the local representatives of the Government—to give them every information which concerns the discharge of the duties of Government; and until we receive that information it would be absurd to make any statement on the subject. If there is apparent ground for making inquiry we will do so. As we now stand, all we can do is to give the assurance which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has given, that we will make immediate inquiry.

LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL

These are plain matters of fact, upon which the Attorney General for Ireland must be able to answer. ["Oh!"] It is perfectly ludicrous. I ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman whether it is a fact that a military expedition left Dublin yesterday to operate for the capture of Quinlan Castle? Is that a fact or not?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. LAW)

I see that state- ment in this morning's newspapers, and I assume it to be correct.