§ MR. JACKSON (Leeds, N.)I desire, with the indulgence of the House, to put a question to the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Owing to my attendance in a Committee upstairs on Friday I was not in my place at Question time, and it was only on Saturday, while travelling by train, that I learned that a reference had been made to me by the Chief Secretary and by the lion, and learned Member for North Louth, which took me by surprise. I at once wrote to the Chief Secretary, and telegraphed to the hon. and learned Member for Louth, that I would put a question to-day. In order to make the matter clear, I will read a portion of the question to which I refer. The hon. and learned Member for Louth, putting a supplementary question to one put by the hon. Member for Down in reference to some outrages at Clare Island, made the statement—
That the evictions which were to have been carried out were abandoned under the pressure which had been brought to bear by the Leader of the Opposition when he was Chief Secretary.To which the Chief Secretary replied—I believe the facts mentioned by my hon. and learned Friend are correct, except that the action referred to was not taken by the Leader of the Opposition, but by his successor.Then the hon. Member for South Antrim asked—Does the right hon. Gentleman say that any pressure was brought to bear by the Chief Secretary?And the hon. and learned Member for North Louth said—I stated that, and I stick to it.
§ MR. JACKSONPerhaps the hon. Member will allow me to complete my question first. The hon. and learned Member added—
In any case, the evictions were abandoned.The Chief Secretary then said—To the best of my recollection certain legal proceedings were withdrawn in consequence of the then Chief Secretary becoming aware of the desperate and deplorable condition of some of the people in the district.I desire to ask the Chief Secretary if he will be good enough to inform the 210 House, upon whom I brought any pressure, what was the nature of that pressure, and when was it brought?
MR. T. M. HEALYMay I be allowed to make a statement before the Chief Secretary replies? [Cries of "Order!"] I am entitled to be heard, and I will be heard. Twenty-two persons were served with eviction notices in Clare Island. The Adjournment of the House was moved with reference thereto by my hon. Friend the Member for the City of Cork. Thereupon, the private secretary to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for North Leeds went down to Clare Island and the evictions were abandoned.
MR. J. MORLEYIn answer to the right hon. Gentleman, I have to say this: that I was speaking upon the spur of the moment on Friday, and I was dependent upon the recollection of the moment. My recollection was very much as my hon. and learned Friend has just stated. I remember the Adjournment of the House being moved in connection with certain evictions then in progress in Clare Island, and I remember that during the Adjournment—I think the Whitsuntide Recess—these evictions, for some reason or other, were stayed. It was assumed, whether the right hon. Gentleman's private secretary had anything to do with it or not, that there was some action taken by the right hon. Gentleman, in withdrawing assistance or in sonic other way, which had checked these proceedings. I find, whatever measures were taken by the Irish Government were not of the nature or extent supposed, and if any false impression has been conveyed by what I said I regret the misrepresentation.
§ MR. JACKSONI think I shall convince the right hon. Gentleman that he has hardly done justice in his answer to the question I put to him. Let me, first, say that the charge made against me—if charge it may be called—was specific.
§ MR. JACKSONA compliment? Well, I do not wish to take credit I do not deserve. The statement was specific that I had brought pressure to bear, and that, in consequence, certain legal proceedings had been withdrawn. I will toll the House, and I think the House 211 will believe, that, so far as I am concerned, there is not a word of truth from beginning to end in that statement. Now I will answer the hon. and learned Member for North Louth, and I hope he will see the justice, if not to me, to the House, of withdrawing a statement absolutely without foundation. The hon. and learned Member has referred to a visit paid to Clare Island by my private secretary. I will tell the House what happened about that. I am not sure whether it was at Easter or at Whitsuntide—I think it was at Easter—I went down to Galway, in connection with some work of the Congested Districts Board, to meet Mr. Green, a member of that Board, and we went across on a Saturday to Arran to see what had been done there, and to see how the arrangements had been carried out with reference to the matter of the fishing. I came back on Saturday night, and slept at Galway, and I occupied Sunday in looking about the place, and making one or two visits. I came back on the Monday morning. My private secretary was anxious to see what was being done with regard to certain curing stations in connection with the District Board at Innisboffin, and he went round to Mr. Tuke, Mrs. Tuke, and Father Davies in a steamer which was hired by Mr. Green. Father Davies desired to go to Clare Island to see the priest there, and my private secretary went on to Clare Island with Father Davies, in order to insure his getting back in time. They were in Clare Island 20 minutes, and absolutely no communication, direct or indirect, passed between me or my private secretary with anybody connected with the evictions.