MR. JOSEPH COWENasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If, in view of the intended release of all the other Irish political prisoners, he will order the liberation of Mr. Michael Davitt, who has been the longest in confinement?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTSir, the Government have taken this matter into consideration, and I have to say that the same reasons which have induced them to release the prisoners who have been released have brought them to the determination to release Michael Davitt.
§ MR. GIBSONI wish to ask whether the release of Michael Davitt is entirely unconditional?
MR. JOSEPH COWENI beg to give Notice of this Question, Whether, inasmuch as Mr. Davitt's policy with respect to land in Ireland has been accepted by Her Majesty's Government and adopted in the Report of the Select Committee of the House of Lords, the Government, under the circumstances, will advise Her Majesty to grant a free pardon to the founder of the Land League, so that Mr. Davitt may come into Parliament, and defend the doctrines now accepted on all sides?
§ MR. GIBSONI have not received an answer to my Question.
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTSir, there will be no conditions attaching to the release of Davitt, except those that were attached to his release when he was liberated by the late Administration. He will be released exactly under the same circumstances, and, I presume, for the same reasons, which induced the late Government to release him—namely, that they thought it might be done consistently with public safety.