§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War on what grounds have the War Office decided that the relaxations of the Catholic Emancipation Act, 1829, do not apply to officers in Her Majesty's household troops; would it be illegal to permit a Roman Catholic to act as an officer in the proposed Irish Guards Regiment, and must the colonel also be by birth an Englishman; and can the Government refer to any minute, order, or law explaining the rumoured appointments to commissions in this regiment.
§ * MR. WYNDHAMI cannot give the grounds for a decision which has not been taken. Appointments are made to the Irish Guards, as to all other regiments, without inquiring into the religion of candidates. Irish birth, on the other hand, does give a preferential claim to selection. I know nothing of the rumours referred to.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYIs it a fact that not a single Catholic is to be allowed to be an officer in this new regiment?
§ * MR. WYNDHAMI am not prepared to discuss the giving of Her Majesty's commissions before such commissions are given.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYAre there any Catholic officers in the Army suitable for such a position?
§ * MR. WYNDHAMI must repeat what have just said. The giving of Her Majesty's commissions is not a subject which can properly be discussed until they are given. If they are improperly distributed, then the action of the Government will form a subject for criticism at a later date.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYWill the hon. Gentleman answer my question whether the colonel must be by birth an Englishman?
§ * MR. WYNDHAMI have answered that question by saying that Irish birth gives a preferential claim to selection. No doubt there are many other qualifications to be considered.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYIs the gentleman named for the colonelcy an Englishman?
§ * MR. WYNDHAMI have already told the hon. Member that I have no knowledge of the rumours which he has referred to.