§ MR. W. REDMOND (Fermanagh, N.)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he is aware that Colonel Kinloch, commanding the troops in Enniskillen, attended an Orange meeting in that town on July 12 last, and wore an Orange badge; and, whether steps will be taken in future to enforce the Military Regulations which forbid officers from taking part in such demonstrations?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)Colonel Kinloch has telegraphed as follows:—
I took no part in any Orange meeting, nor did I attend it, beyond being a spectator of the procession in plain clothes in the crowd.
§ MR. W. REDMONDasked the right hon. Gentleman to answer what he considered the most important part of the Question—namely, whether Colonel Kinloch did not conspicuously wear an Orange badge to the great offence of many people?
§ MR. E. STANHOPEsaid, in the telegraphic reply Colonel Kinloch made no mention of the Orange badge. No doubt, he would have replied to that point if he did not think his statement fully contradicted it.
§ MR. W. REDMONDasked, what there was in the telegraphic statement of Colonel Kinloch which was supposed to indicate that he did not wear an Orange badge? Might he ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he would again interrogate Colonel Kinloch on the subject of wearing the Orange badge?
§ MR. E. STANHOPEsaid, he had given the House all the information at his disposal; but he should have liked longer Notice than he had received of such a Question as this. In consequence of the doubt being expressed as to the wearing of an Orange badge, he would again interrogate Colonel Kinloch on that point.
§ MR. W. REDMONDgave Notice that he would repeat the Question on Monday, and regretted that he had been unable to give longer Notice of it.