HC Deb 14 November 1893 vol 18 cc874-5
Mr. DARLING (Deptford)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by whom, and on whose behalf, notice was given of the meeting held last Sunday in Trafalgar Square; whether that meeting was organised by the London Anarchist Communists to deplore the deaths of, "the Chicago Anarchist Martyrs," Sunday last being the anniversary of the execution for murder of certain Anarchists at Chicago; whether he is aware that at such meeting an Anarchist named Murdoch referred to the recent bomb explosion, causing many deaths, at Barcelona, and announced that there would be something of the same kind here before long; and whether there is any reason to suppose that the Anarchists now active on the Continent have any communication or relations with those in this country?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. ASQUITH,) Fife, E.

(1) The notice was given on October 3 by a Mr. Weiss on, "behalf of the members of the 'Freedom' Group." (2) The object of the meeting was stated to be the commemoration of the Chicago Anarchists and what is known as the bloody Sunday of 1887. (3) I have no official Report of the speeches, but I understand that the man referred to, after stating that— The use of dynamite and the shedding of innocent blood were wholly foreign to their programme, went on to say— The affair at Barcelona was a horrible thing; it was not the act of an Anarchist, but that of men rendered desperate, and the same thing might happen in this country. (4) I do not think that it would be consistent with the public interest that I should answer this paragraph.

MR. DARLING

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman what the, "Freedom Group" represents? Is it the Anarchists and Communists of London?

MR. ASQUITH

The application was made on behalf of the members of the, "Freedom Group." They gave no other designation.