§ MR. J. MORLEY (Newcastle-on-Tyne)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is now able to place on the Table particulars with reference to the boycotting cases mentioned in his speech of last Tuesday?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI understood that all that was desired was some means of identifying the cases. The Government have always resisted returns giving the names of cases of boycotting, for the obvious reason that it might endanger life. But as the cases to which I referred have already been made public, either in newspaper controversy or before Courts of Law, I have no objection to giving the names, with the dates and places. I presume that that will be adequate.
§ MR. J. MORLEYAnd the circumstances?
§ Mr. A. J. BALFOURI think that such a return as I have mentioned is already rather unusual, and I do not think I can undertake to add a narrative of the circumstances, which, however, are already well known.
§ MR. J. MORLEYThe right hon. Gentleman has made use of the circumstances as arguments, and I wish to test those arguments, which I cannot do unless the circumstances are placed before me.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI will undertake to give a sufficient statement of the 1170 circumstances to enable the right hon. Gentleman to identify the cases.
§ MR. CLANCYWith reference to the reason given by the Chief Secretary for Ireland for not giving the names, may I ask how can there possibly lie boycotting without its being known?
§ [No answer was given.]