§ MR. DANEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) whether the attention of the Irish. Government has been drawn to the statement, contained in a recent charge at Buncrana of the Coroner for the County of Donegal (within recent years a Member of this House) to the prevalent indications of efforts now being made in County Donegal to re-establish secret unlawful societies; and (2) whether, in view of such indications, the Government will reconsider the question of reducing the strength of the Royal Irish Constabulary in that county?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe attention of the Irish Government has been directed to recent observations made by the Coroner of Donegal in the sense indicated in the first paragraph. I do not think the Coroner was a, Member of this House, though his predecessor was. In reducing the strength of the County Force, the responsible authorities have 934 been guided both by experience and by local knowledge, and the Government see no reason, at present, for reconsidering the question.