§ MR. HEALYasked the Postmaster General, Whether it is true that, at various times since December last, the "Irish World" newspaper has been stopped in the Dublin General Post Office; if so, by whose instructions, and upon what grounds, this was done; whether the Department will compen- 594 sate subscribers for the copies seized; whether any advice was sent to the addressees as to how their property had been disposed of; whether, during the same period, the "Irish World" was allowed to be delivered as usual through English Post Offices; and, if so, why a distinction was made; if it is correct that, under Article 6 of the Postal Convention, signed at Paris in June 1878, Great Britain binds herself to pay an indemnity of 50 francs to the sender of certain registered articles, including newspapers, "sauf le cas de force majeure;" whether the senders of undelivered registered packets of the "Irish World" will be entitled to receive the indemnity; and, whether any representations have been made by the Government of the United States as to the seizure of American newspapers in Irish Post Offices?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTER, in reply, said, that as this was a political matter he might be allowed to answer the Question. It was true that The Irish World newspaper since December had been stopped in the Dublin General Post Office by the warrant of the Lord Lieutenant, who deemed it necessary for the good government of Ireland that that step should be taken. That was the only answer he could make to the first four Questions. If the action of the Irish Government were disputed in a Court of Law, it must be defended. With regard to the last Question, whether any representations had been made by the Government of the United States, he had to say that no representation, as far as he was aware, had been made by that Government. An inquiry had, in the course of business, been made of the Post Office; and the reply given by the Post Office was that the paper had been stopped by direction of the Lord Lieutenant.
§ MR. HEALYsaid, that no answer had been given as to an engagement to pay 50 francs to the sender of certain registered articles, including newspapers, "sauf le cas de force majeure."
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERThat is a legal Question, to which I am not able to give an answer.
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERThat is a legal Question, and Notice ought to be given of it in proper form.
§ MR. REDMONDasked whether the papers had been destroyed in the Post Office?
§ [No reply was given to the Question.]