HC Deb 07 August 1882 vol 273 cc963-5
SIR R. ASSHETON CROSS

said, he did not wish to press the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant; but it might be satisfactory to the country if the right hon. Gentleman could inform the House whether the reports with regard to the Constabulary were correct or exaggerated?

MR. TREVELYAN

There are very long accounts in various papers, and some of them are considerably exaggerated. But the movement is strong in one part of the country. I believe the report with regard to Mr. Clifford Lloyd is, as far as I can gather from a comparison of papers and from the accounts of Colonel Bruce, has been greatly exaggerated. The most important rumour was that some of the police had refused to go on duty. That, I am glad to say, is not correct. Colonel Bruce, in a letter, said— I am satisfied that the Constabulary are as perfectly loyal at this moment, and as ready to perform any duty required of them, as ever. The combination has undoubtedly spread more or less over the country. Further on he said— I would again say I believe the spirit of the men is at present perfectly loyal and faithful; but it is true that they are smarting under the feeling of disappointment at the delay which has occurred in the distribution of the £180,000 promised to them. Full and mature inquiry will be made into the complaints of the men; but the Government will not entertain any representations as long as the present attitude exists, which is opposed to discipline, and seriously discredits the Force. That I know to be the intention of the Irish Government. I regret very much that the necessity of passing the Constabulary Bill, and the Vote of £180,000 mentioned in the Inspector General's Report, keeps me from going to Ireland to take part in the business.

MR. T. P. O'CONNOR

asked whether it was a fact, as stated in some of the newspapers, that Mr. Clifford Lloyd had an interview with the police, which was, to say the least of it, of an unpleasant character, and the police declared that they would not parade again if called upon to do so by Mr. Clifford Lloyd; and whether Colonel Bruce, instead of Mr. Clifford Lloyd, was present at the parade?

MR. TREVELYAN

said, he would want Notice of the Question, because he had got no information about it. All he could say was that the attitude of Mr. Clifford Lloyd had been extremely different from that ascribed to him in the newspapers, and he had seen several letters from him. He would obtain information on that point, however; but would use his own judgment in giving it to the House. Whatever the men did was done anterior to the interview with Mr. Clifford Lloyd.

MR. T. P. O'CONNOR

said, the right hon. Gentleman had not answered the latter part of his Question.

MR. SEXTON

I beg to give Notice that I will ask the right hon. Gentleman this Question to-morrow, when, perhaps, he will be able to answer it.

MR. TREVELYAN

I shall certainly be able to answer it; but, so far as the action of Mr. Clifford Lloyd, is concerned, he simply endeavoured to bring the police to a proper sense of their duty.

MR. CALLAN

said, he wished to ask the Chief Secretary a Question relating to a telegram which he had received from that "anonymous," but he thought very real body, the Royal Irish Constabulary. The telegram stated that the Head Constables seized the men's Memorial to-day and placed Constable Murphy under arrest, charged with having an illegal document in his possession, and requested him to ask the Chief Secretary a Question on this point. He wished to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether his attention had been directed to a paragraph which appeared in The Standard newspaper to-day from The Standard correspondent at Cork, stating that an extraordinary occurrence happened there to-day in connection with the police agitation. The paragraph he referred to contained the particulars relating to the seizure of the Memorial and the arrest of the constable having it in his possession. He wished to know whether that action had the approbation and sanction of the Chief Secretary; and whether he would be good enough to state under what Act or Rule of the Constabulary Code the Head Constable had acted; whether the right hon. Gentleman was still of opinion that the reports in the newspapers, with regard to this movement, were characterized by extraordinary exaggeration, and that the present agitation was largely due to causes outside the Police Force; and whether he was now of opinion that it was due to internal causes in the Police Force; and whether the course taken by Colonel Bruce was not improper and unwise in the extreme?

MR. TREVELYAN

said, he should require Notice of the Question.