§ MR. LEWIS (Londonderry), who had a Motion on the Paper to the following effect:—
That, having regard to the statements made in this House on behalf of Her Majesty's Government as to the possibility in certain events of a serious outbreak of disorder in Ireland, this House is of opinion that it is the duty of Her Majesty's Government to take immediate steps for the renewal of 'The Peace Preservation (Ireland) Act, 1881,' which will expire on the first of June next,said, he had no intention of taking up the time of the House by moving it; but he would content himself by calling the attention of the House and the country to this question before the Easter holidays. As early as the 6th of February last he gave Notice in the House for a few days afterwards asking if the Government intended to take steps to renew the Act, and he was informed by the Chief Secretary that it was premature to ask the Question. In the month of March he again put the Question, and received a similar reply. The Chief Secretary had now told him that it was too late to obtain any renewal of the Act before the Easter holidays. It was important to notice, and draw the attention of the House and the country to this—that according to the Chief Secretary nearly the whole of Ireland, with the exception of Wicklow, outside Ulster, was at the present time under the Arms Act. They had recently from 1635 the Benches opposite had a warning of what was likely to take place in the event of a certain Bill not obtaining the sanction, of the House. They were told that they had reason to fear American interference; to fear outrage likely to arise in Ireland, and other consequences. Under these circumstances, it appeared that Her Majesty's Government were prepared to allow the whole of Ireland to arm itself in prospect of these proceedings. If that was so, it was right that the House should understand that the Government had distinctly contemplated the non-renewal of this Act, and decided to take no steps for the purpose of getting an early renewal of it. It was necessary that the House and the country should know what was shortly the effect of that Act. It was not to enforce any coercion, except under the responsibility of the Lord Lieutenant. The Act was only called into operation not against the whole country, but against certain parts of the country by the Lord Lieutenant on his responsibility. The fact was that they found the present Lord Lieutenant had thought it necessary, on his responsibility, to place the whole of Ireland outside Ulster, except Wicklow, under that Act, and prevent the people from carrying arms. That being so, notwithstanding all the warning they had received from the Chief Secretary, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the hon. Member for Bedford (Mr. Whitbread), as to what was likely to happen in certain events, they were told by the Government that from the 1st of June the whole of the restrictions were to be withdrawn, and a licence given to the whole of the Irish people to arm themselves to the teeth. All he could say was that if the Government accepted that responsibility, on their own heads let it be. He thought it should be understood that the Government had delayed taking any steps for the renewal of the Act, and had rendered that renewal impossible until the Act had expired. The delay had been wilful on the part of the Government, and the responsibility for any bloodshed that might take place in Ireland in consequence of the Act not being in operation must fall upon them.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY) (Newcastle-on-Tyne)It needs only a sentence or two to reply to the hon. Member. He quite misapprehended 1636 the statement I made. The hon. Member assumes that the Government will in no case renew the Arms Act.
§ MR. JOHN MORLEYI never for one moment said it would be impossible. In reply to the hon. Member, I said that modifications might be necessary, and that I could not undertake to propose these modifications until I had consulted with the authorities who are in a position to supply information on the subject. One other remark as to the merits of the Arms Act, and as to some observations which fell from hon. Gentlemen. I have understood during the short time I have been in Office that the Arms Act, whatever value it may have had, has little or no value in preventing crime and outrage. The use which it has—and the use which we shall look to if we determine to renew it—is in preventing large bodies of men in the North of Ireland and elsewhere coming to gatherings armed. For that purpose the Arms Act is believed to be useful; and if the result of my investigation is to favour the renewal, the Government will take the necessary steps in sufficient time.
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS - BEACH (Bristol, W.)I quite accept the interpretation put by the right hon. Gentleman upon the answer he gave to my hon. Friend. I understood that what the right hon. Gentleman said was that it was impossible, with any satisfactory result, to bring in a Bill before the Easter Recess; and certainly I understood the purport of his answer to be that Her Majesty's Government contemplated the renewal of the Act with any modifications considered to be required. I want to make this remark—that the Government have delayed the consideration of this matter for a long time, quite long enough to justify much distrust on the part of hon. Members who, like my hon. Friend, are specially concerned in this matter as representing Irish constituencies. I will further remind the right hon. Gentleman that if he will refer to the speeches of his Colleague, the present Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he proposed the enactment of this measure in the last Parliament, he will find that there were other much graver reasons for this legislation than that to which he has alluded.
§ An hon. MEMBER: Mr. Forster required it.
§ MR. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)I think the people of Ulster have reason to complain of the statement made as to the renewal of the Arms Act by the Chief Secretary. We are told that if this Act is to be renewed it is only to be renewed in contemplation of an attempt on the part of the people of Ulster to protect themselves against dangers which threaten the Protestants of Ulster; and, in view of the statement of the right hon. Gentleman and the possible new application of the Arms Act, I will, on the introduction of any such Bill, move its rejection.