§ MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)having risen—
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURsaid I do not know whether I am right in imagining that the hon. Gentleman is going to ask leave to move the adjournment.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDI was going to ask a Question first, and it would depend on the answer whether or not I should ask leave.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURWell, I want to say something before the adjournment is moved.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDI had perhaps better put my Question first—It is, to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has any information to give to the House with reference to the statement in today's newspapers that nine counties and two cities in Ireland have been proclaimed under Sections 2, 3, and 4 of the Coercion Act.
§ MR. WYNDHAMYes, the Lord Lieutenant, and I associate myself fully with his action, yesterday proclaimed in Council certain urban and rural districts in Ireland, thirty-four in number altogether, and the two cities of Waterford and Cork, under Section 2 of the Criminal Law and Procedure Act. He also proclaimed the nine counties of which those districts form part, together with the County Boroughs of Cork and Waterford, under Sections 3 and 4 of the same Act. The object of that action was to make persons amenable to the law who have broken the law. The definition of the area so proclaimed has been based on information which convinced the Irish Government that the law has been broken, principally by the increased practice and advocacy of offences popularly known as boycotting and intimidation.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDDo I understand that the proclamation under Section 2 of the Act does not apply to the whole of the nine counties, and, if so, what are the districts that are so affected?
§ MR. WYNDHAMI can read the names, but it is a long list.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDI will not ask it if they are so numerous; we shall see them tomorrow.