§ MR. W. H. K. REDMOND (Clare, E.)On behalf of the honourable Member for Cork (Mr. J. F. X. O'BRIEN) I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will see that arrangements shall be made to permit of Irishmen in the Navy wearing the shamrock on St. Patrick's Day in future, as has already been done in the Army?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. G. J. GOSCHEN,) St. George's, Hanover SquareI replied on the 5th April (in answer to a Question put to me by the honourable Member for East Clare) that I would give my full consideration to the question whether a rule like that in the Army, allowing officers a 1531 certain discretion in the matter, should be introduced in the Navy, but I find that very strong objections are entertained by naval officers, not to the special wearing of the shamrock, but to the wearing of any flowers, badges, or tokens on their naval uniform, and I can give no pledge on the subject.