HC Deb 23 July 1897 vol 51 cc889-90
MR. JOHN DILLON (Mayo, E.)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Deputy Surgeon General J. H. Beath, officer in charge of the Station Hospital, Stirling, on 23rd June last, in addressing his class, some of whom were Roman Catholics, stated, amongst many other similar expressions, that Roman Catholics worshipped idols, and that, in his opinion, they could commit any crime, even murder, and that all they had to do was to go to the priest and tell him, and he would laugh and say, it is all right, you are forgiven; and, if so, what steps the War Office will take to protect Roman Catholic soldiers from being thus addressed?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, Guildford

Reference having been made to Deputy Surgeon General Beath, that officer denies that he used the language imputed to him in the hon. Member's Question, or that he entertains the ideas such language would convey. The authorities would regard any such address as reprehensible.