§ Mr. SEXTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the Irish Executive have resolved not to call into requisition the services of extra police in connection with the celebrations of the Orange anniversary to-morrow through the province of Ulster; whether circulars have been issued to the Orange brethren, instructing them to go armed, and whether the celebrations are so arranged in many cases as to direct the march of the Orange processionists through districts peopled by 28 Roman Catholics; and, whether the Executive intend to take any special steps in view of such a prospect?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, His Excellency has gone carefully through all the reports received from magistrates and police respecting the anniversary tomorrow, and he has directed a large number of police to be despatched to those districts in which disturbances are apprehended, and has also sent several Resident Magistrates to the said districts, as well as one to Belfast. Men are held in readiness to go to Belfast should they be demanded by the Resident Magistrate. In some cases, through the action of the magistrates, processions likely to lead to disturbance have been abandoned. An hon. Member has just placed in my hands a telegram from the Town Clerk of Belfast, in which he says that no orders or circulars such as are referred to in the Question have been issued. All is expected to pass off quietly. I hope the hon. Member will consider that assurance satisfactory.