§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (1) whether his attention has been called to a recent meeting of Irishmen resident in the Transvaal, appealing to Her Majesty's Government to extend to the Irish treason-felony prisoners the same measure of clemency as that shown by President Kruger to the Johannesburg leaders who were convicted of treason; and, (2) whether he can hold out any hopes of an early reconsideration of this question?
§ SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEYI have seen a telegram in the newspapers stating that such a meeting was held, and a copy of the telegram has also been sent to me privately, but no communication from the meeting has as yet been received by me. As regards the second paragraph of the question, I am afraid I can add nothing to the statements I have already made in the House.
§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIENMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the Government has any objection to President Kruger detaining in prison raiders convicted of treason, and now confined in Pretoria until the Government decide to release the Irish political prisoners now thirteen years in penal servitude.