§ MR. P. O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)I desire to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if it is true, as reported in the evening papers, that the steamship Ireland, alleged to have been sold to the American Government, has been ordered not to leave the port of Kingstown?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI understand that the negotiations, if there ever were negotiations in connection with the Ireland, have broken down.
§ MR. P. O'BRIENIs that any reason for ordering that she should not leave the port?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! That is an argument, not a Question.
§ MR. P. O'BRIENThen, may I ask this Question: Has she been ordered not to leave the port? And may I further ask if the contract for her sale had been completed before the declaration of war, would her purchasers have been entitled to take her away?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYAs I understand she has not been sold.
§ MR. P. O'BRIENI must ask the right honourable Gentleman has she been ordered not to leave the port?
§ MR. MACNEILLYes, or no? [Cries of "Order!"]
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI have informed the honourable Gentleman, although I might, perhaps, have asked for notice of the Question, that, so far as my knowledge goes, the Ireland has not been sold, either to the Spanish or the American Government, and under those circumstances nobody has a right to order her not to leave, or to leave, the port.