MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether he will see that arrangements are made for sending shamrock from Ireland to the troops in Great Britain and other countries where it could reach them in time for St. Patrick's Day next.
*MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMS (for Mr. WYNDHAM)There is no reason for supposing that it will be beyond the powers of Irish regiments to provide themselves with a supply of shamrock, and the Secretary of State is of opinion that such a supply should be procured by regimental arrangement. The regiments are probably better able than the War Office to obtain the genuine plant.
MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether, now that Her Majesty has ordered the wearing of shamrock by the Army on St. Patrick's Day, he will order that an additional shilling be paid to each soldier on that day to enable the men to fittingly celebrate the day.
*MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMS (for Mr. WYNDHAM)Army funds could hardly be appropriated for the purpose which the hon. Member suggests.
§ MR. T. B. CURRAN (Donegal, N.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether the order recently issued by Her Majesty the Queen, commanding all ranks in the Irish regiments to wear a sprig of shamrock on St. Patrick's Day will be extended to individual Irishmen in every one of Her Majesty's regiments.
*MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMSAll Irishmen, whether serving in Irish regiments or not, will be allowed to wear the shamrock on St. Patrick's Day.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)May I ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that when I raised this question I was turned out of the House, the Government will now apologise to me?