§ MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, By whose order the military were called out on the occasion of an assembly in Trafalgar Square on the 13th of November last?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)The actual request that the military might be sent into Trafalgar Square on the day in question was made to the officer in command by the Chief Commissioner of Police. On the day previous, I had requested the War Office to have certain troops in readiness is the event, of emergency.
§ MR. PICKERSGILLasked, whether it was not a fact that the right hon. Gentleman was in attendance in the neighbourhood at the time; and whether the orders to call out the military were given with his express sanction?
§ MR. MATTHEWSNo, Sir; I am informed that it was not an order, but a request, for the military to appear.