HC Deb 21 February 1884 vol 284 cc1594-6
MR. SEXTON

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he is aware that Lord Ernest William Hamilton, a Lieutenant in the 11th Hussars, directly abetted a body of armed Orangemen, at Derry, on the 1st November last, in taking possession of the Municipal Hall, which had been duly engaged for the delivery of a lecture by the Lord Mayor of Dublin on the subject of the franchise; whether Mountifort J. C. Long-field, a Lieutenant in the 2nd Life Guards, has signed, in his capacity as a magistrate of the county of Cork, a public manifesto approving of the course of conduct by which Lord Rossmore incurred removal from the Commission of the Peace, and condemning the Government for having superseded him; and, whether such conduct is incompatible with the Military duty of the officers named; and, if so, what steps will be taken in regard to it? I would also ask the noble Marquess whether Lieutenant Lord Ernest Hamilton is not the same person who harangued a body of Orangemen in Derry Town Hall immediately before shots were fired from the Town Hall, by which two persons were wounded?

MR. LEWIS

asked, whether a Government inquiry had not been held into the proceedings at Derry; when this Report would be laid before the House; and, why it was not laid before the House before the present time?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

I understand from my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary that the proceedings at Derry on the occasion referred to have been the subject of an inquiry ordered by the Irish Government, and that the result of that inquiry has been, or will very shortly be, brought under the consideration of the Government with reference to the conduct of several persons who took a prominent part in the proceedings. I am unwilling, therefore, at this time, to express any opinion as to the part which was taken by Lord Ernest Hamilton or any other person on that occasion. With regard to the general question, I may add to what I said the other day, that I think the terms of the Queen's Regulations on the subject are liable to misinterpretation. The words of the Regulation are— Soldiers are forbidden to institute or take part in any meetings, demonstrations, or processions, for Party or political purposes in barracks, quarters, camp, or elsewhere. The meaning of this Order seems to me to be that officers or soldiers on duty should not attend political meetings in which they have no local interest beyond being quartered in the vicinity. It could never have been intended that an officer or soldier should be altogether deprived of his civil rights, which would be the case if the word "elsewhere" was interpreted literally. It must, I think, be governed by the words which precede it, and be held to mean "elsewhere in the vicinity of the barracks, quarters," &c. It appears that the officer in question was, at the time referred to, on leave of absence from his regiment. The case of Lieutenant Longfield has not been brought to my notice; but it would seem that if his proceedings were reprehensible, it would rather be as a magistrate than in his military capacity.

MR. SEXTON

I beg to give Notice that I will ask the noble Marquess, whether there is any intention to change the Regulations so as to prevent military officers from taking part in such proceedings at a distance from their barracks; and, if I do not get a satisfactory answer, I beg to give Notice that I will call attention to the subject on the Army Estimates.