MR. GORSTasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether a treasonable Proclamation addressed to the men of Ireland, and signed "By order of the Irish National Directory," has been circulated in England, and particularly whether such Proclamation was put up in the Roman Catholic school and chapel at a town in the west riding of Yorkshire on Sunday last; and, if so, what steps Her Majesty's Government propose to take to prevent the publication of treasonable Proclamations in England?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTYes, Sir. My attention has been called to the proclamation referred to, which has been posted in many parts of England, and the Government are taking such steps as they think necessary to ascertain the history and origin of this proclamation; but when the hon. and learned Member asks me to state what steps the Government propose to take, I submit that to make a public statement of that kind will not be advisable. I hope the House will be satisfied with the assurance that the Government are fully alive to the mischief and dangers of such proclamations, and are doing all in their power to prevent them.
§ MR. CALLANsaid, that with reference to the Question that had just been put to the Secretary of State for the Home Department by the hon. and 169 learned Member for Chatham, he begged to ask, Whether it is true that the placard in question was posted up in a Roman Catholic church and school in a town in the West Riding of Yorkshire on Sunday last; whether there is any foundation for the charge implied in the Question; and, if so, whether the name of the place will be given, so that the members of the community may have an opportunity of repelling the slander?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTI must ask the hon. Member to give Notice of that Question, as I have no particular information as to this or other places. I have seen copies of such a proclamation, which I am informed was put up in various parts of England and of the Metropolis.