MR. T. M. HEALYI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will inquire whether Mr. James Quinlan, station-master at Mafeking, was shot in October by order of Colonel Baden-Powell; and why the letter which Mr. Quinlan addressed to an Irish Member vindicating his innocence was not allowed to be forwarded.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.The hon. and learned Gentleman is aware that this question relates to an alleged exercise of military authority, and under those circumstances it is not in my department. The question should be addressed to the War Office.
MR. T. M. HEALYThe right hon. Gentleman knows that the War Office will not inquire, and now he says he will not inquire; is that because this man was an Irishman?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI do not think that the hon. and learned Gentleman shows his usual fairness in insinuating that this is a matter which has not been dealt with because it is an Irish question. Perhaps, with reference to that, the House might like to have some account of Irish opinion, at all events, on the spot. I have received to-day from the Governor, Sir W. Hely-Hutchinson—who is himself an Irishman, I believe—the following telegram—
Mr. T. P. O'Meara, till recently member for Maritzburg, member of town council of Maritzburg, and prominent citizen, requests me to send you the following on behalf of himself and brother Irishmen in Natal. Begins: 'Irishmen in Natal support Her Majesty's Government. The supremacy of the Empire in South Africa must be placed beyond a doubt.'
MR. T. M. HEALYWould the right hon. Gentleman, out of consideration to the Irishmen of Natal who are supporting the Government, inquire into the shooting of Mr. Quinlan?
§ * MR. WYNDHAMI think the hon. Member misunderstood my reply to his question yesterday. What I stated was that I did not think it reasonable to address a question to Lord Roberts unless I myself was personally cognisant of the statement on which that question is based. If the hon. Member or any other hon. Member will supply me with those statements, then there is something to go upon, and I will make an inquiry. But I cannot intrude upon the time of a most distinguished officer on mere rumours, of which there are so many at this moment.
MR. T. M. HEALYThis statement—which was that the gentleman was shot, and that he forwarded a letter to an Irish Member before he was compelled to dig 703 his own grave—appeared in the English papers at the Cape.
§ * MR. WYNDHAMWill the hon. Gentleman supply me with the statements so that I can act upon them?