§ MR. WHALLEYsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to a Statement in the Newspapers that the Mayor of Birmingham and others, at an interview, had presented a written Statement on the subject of recent discourses at Birmingham by Mr. Murphy, with special reference to his threatened visit to Liverpool and other large towns; Whether, if this be true, he would lay upon the Table of the House a Copy of any written Statement as submitted to him; and also inform the House of the Reply thereto, either in writing or otherwise?
§ MR. GATHORNE HARDYsaid, he had received the hon. Member's Question so recently that he feared he should not be able to give an entirely satisfactory answer. It was quite true that the Mayor of Birmingham and two other gentleman had had an interview with him upon the subject of the late proceedings at Birmingham, and had asked him two questions. One of these questions related to a publication which it appeared to him (Mr. Gathorne Hardy) highly objectionable to put in circulation, and which the deputation said was finding its way into schools, and was becoming a serious nuisance. They wished to know whether any proceedings could be taken against this, and on referring to documents in the Department, he found that that publication had been before under consideration, but there was always this difficulty in connection with it, that, if made the subject of a prosecution, questions might arise before a Jury as to the reasons for putting it in circulation—whether it was done through malice or with the view to controversy, and it was therefore deemed unadvisahle to bring the matter into a Court of Law, though, under the circumstances, he (Mr. Gathorne Hardy) thought the publication a very unsafe one in the hands of the persons among whom it was intended to be circulated. The other question was as to any steps which might be taken with respect to the discourses delivered at Birmingham. Upon that point he said he did not think that there were any grounds for criminal proceedings. There was a statement in writing submitted to him; but he did not think it desirable that communications of that description should be published, as their production would tend to 926 discourage that confidential interchange of opinion and of information which took place at the Home Office.