§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFwished to make an appeal to the Government on a subject of some urgency. He was, therefore, glad to see the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies in his place, as he had no doubt the hon. Gentleman would be able to answer the question he wished to put. The question had reference to a serious occurrence which had just taken place in Gibraltar. It appeared that on Thursday, the 2nd of March, in consequence of a Proclamation of the Governor of Gibraltar, acts of great violence were committed by the Governor against the inhabitants of that fortress, in pursuance of arbitrary instructions from Her Majesty's Government arbitrarily carried out by the Governor. He had just received a communication which stated that in pursuance of instructions received from Her Majesty's Government, the Governor had caused a notice to be inserted in The Gazette, warning persons against interfering in any way with the Vicar Apostolic or any of the clergy on pain of fine and imprisonment provided for such cases by law. This was a Government notice issued after a correspondence between the inhabitants and the Governor in consequence of Doctor Gonzalo Canilla, Vicar Apostolic, whose appointment was exceedingly distasteful to the people, being forced upon the Roman Catholic inhabitants by illegal means. And what had been the result? They might be reading of Warsaw or any other place where despotic government was exercised to the fullest extent. Even Ireland at the present moment appeared to be in a better position than Gibraltar. It appeared that the most respectful remonstrances were addressed by the Roman Catholic inhabitants of Gibraltar, in consequence of their objection to the 665 intrusion of a Vicar Apostolic who was distasteful to the population, and who had been nominated, as they believed in an illegal manner. The letter he had received stated that on Thursday, the 2nd instant, the open space in front of the Church of St. Mary the Crowned was blockaded by troops. Meld pieces were held in readiness, and the entire garrison was under arms, and the town was virtually in a state of siege without proclamation. This array of military power was brought into play against a loyal, peaceful, and aggrieved population, who had hitherto always been faithful to the laws of their country. The Catholics, when they were led to believe that Dr. Canilla was to be installed by force of arms, entered the Church of St. Mary the Crowned and barred the doors. The troops entered the court-yard, and the military and police, acting under orders from the highest authorities, broke open the doors, forced an entrance into the church, and forcibly expelled all the Catholics who were inside, arresting many of them. Subsequently the police magistrate summarily passed sentence on all the prisoners, condemning some of them to six months' imprisonment with hard labour, without the option of a fine. He wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether this report of these violent proceedings and arbitrary sentences was correct, and whether Her Majesty's Government intended to inquire into the circumstances, and to see how far it was possible for citizens in the fortress of Gibraltar, irritated by the conduct of the authorities, acting in contravention of any legal decree, and on the mere ipse dixit of the Governor, in pursuance of instructions from the Colonial Office, to be kept in prison with hard labour upon the mere sentence of a police magistrate, the legality of which seemed to be altogether doubtful? He had no wish to stand between the Government and Supply; but, in his opinion, this grievance was so urgent that he deemed it his duty to bring it at once to the knowledge of the House, and unless he got a satisfactory answer from the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies he should renew the question on Monday.
§ MR. COURTNEYsaid, he was extremely sorry the hon. Member for Portsmouth had not been in possession 666 of further information before making the statement which he had just brought before the notice of the House. It was only the other day that he told the hon. Member exactly what had been telegraphed by the Governor of Gibraltar with respect to the occurrence of Thursday, the 2nd of March. He was not aware that any fresh communication had been forwarded; but certainly up to that evening no further intelligence had been received. The hon. Member had read to the House a very highly-coloured statement which had been sent from Gibraltar, and which terminated with the allegation that certain persons had been committed to prison by the police magistrates for offences of which he (Mr. Courtney) knew nothing whatever. The exact state of things, so far as their information went, was very simple, and had been clearly explained last week. Dr. Canilla had been appointed Vicar Apostolic of Gibraltar. There was no dispute whatever as to that circumstance. Then there was no dispute about the fact that there was at Gibraltar the Church of St. Mary the Crowned, which belonged to the Crown.
§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFsaid, that fact was not stated in the decree of the Governor.
§ MR. COURTNEYsaid, whether that was so or not, the fact was not disputed even by those persons who objected to the appointment of Dr. Canilla as Vicar Apostolic of Gibraltar. His former answer went to show that the appointment was objected to by some persons, and that a notice was issued in The Gazette warning all persons that whoever interfered with any ecclesiastic going to church for the purpose of performing the sacred functions of the Roman Catholic religion would do so at his peril. The hon. Member stated to the House that in consequence of its being known that Dr. Canilla would go to the church on the Thursday in question a considerable crowd entered the church at the time of early Mass and then barricaded the door; that when Dr. Canilla proceeded later to celebrate High Mass the doors were broken open, and that some persons were forcibly expelled, and others arrested. Upon that last point he (Mr. Courtney) said he had no information whatever. The hon. Member himself did not pretend to know the truth of the matter; nevertheless, he 667 came forward to arraign the Government because a police magistrate, in certain proceedings which came before him at Gibraltar, under circumstances of which they knew nothing, had sentenced certain persons to imprisonment. For these reasons it was impossible that the matter could be advantageously proceeded with on that occasion; and he trusted if the hon. Member again brought it forward he would do so at a time when they were in possession of all the facts.
§ MR. O'DONNELLsaid, he was surprised that the hon. Member for Portsmouth should come forward on that occasion in his present character, because he had always been accustomed to regard him as identified with the cause which united authority with religion. As far as could be gathered, the hon. Member now objected to religion being united with authority on the occasion in question. However, his (Mr. O'Donnell's) small cavils must disappear at finding the author of Vaticanism so warmly engaged in supporting the Pope.