§ COLONEL SANDYS (Lancashire, S. W., Bootle)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether Her Majesty's Government are aware that there is in Ireland, at the present time, a Mission from the Pope of Rome, of which Monseigneur Persico, a Roman Catholic Prelate, is the recognized head; whether there is any reason to believe that this Papal Mission, though nominally a religious one, is practically a political inquiry into the present state of Ireland; and, whether the Pope, before sending a Mission of this character to a part of Her Majesty's Dominions, had asked for or obtained permission to do so from Her Majesty's Government?
§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)Upon this Question, Sir, I wish to ask you whether, in view of the fact that an Envoy from His Holiness the Sovereign Pontiff of the Catholic Church was lately received by Her Majesty the Queen, ordinary usage does not require that he should be described by his historical and accepted title, and not by that of the Pope of Rome as it appears in the Question?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! I call on the First Lord of the Treasury. There is nothing irregular in the Question
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)Her Majesty's Government are not aware that there is in Ireland at the present time a Mission from the Pope. So far as they are concerned, Monseigneur Persico is a private individual, travelling in Ireland for reasons best known to himself. No communication has passed between the Pope and Her Majesty's Government on the subject.
§ MR. P. O'BRIEN (Monaghan, N.)May I ask whether this most rev. gentleman's luggage was searched?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order !