§ MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)I beg to ask the Attorney General a Question of which I have given him private Notice—namely, Whether, after the declarations of himself and the Attorney General for Ireland last night as to the identity of the law relating to public meetings in both countries, and the determination of the Government, as announced by the Chief Secretary for Ireland, to disperse by force meetings in Ireland in connection with the Plan of Campaign, the Government intend to disperse meetings called in England in support of the Plan of Campaign?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir RICHARD WEBSTER) (Isle of Wight)I only received Notice of the Question on 1275 coming to the House five minutes ago, and I do not intend to answer the argumentative part of it. But I desire to say that it is impossible to decide whether a meeting is illegal until the purposes for, and circumstances under which it is called, are known. If, however, the law is broken in England, as it has undoubtedly been in Ireland, steps will certainly be taken to enforce it.
§ MR. CONYBEAREI beg to give Notice to the Attorney General that I intend to-morrow to address a meeting in England in favour of the Plan of Campaign.