§ CAPTAIN DONELANI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the British mission, headed by Lord Denbigh, which recently waited upon His Holiness the Pope, was authorised by the Government to give any assurance that the Coronation Oath would be so modified as to contain nothing offensive to His Majesty's Roman Catholic subjects.
§ * MR. WILLIAM JOHNSTON (Belfast, W.)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that on a recent day petitions, signed by more than half a million of persons in all portions of His Majesty's dominions, were presented by a right hon. Gentleman at present in the House, praying that the House would not agree to any alteration in the King's Declaration or the Coronation Oath in the direction indicated in this Question.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am aware of the facts my hon. friend has just stated to the House, but they really have no bearing upon the Question upon the Paper. The answer to the Question on the Paper is in the negative.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANWhy was not this opportunity taken to give some such assurance?
§ [No answer was returned.]
§ CAPTAIN DONELANI think I am entitled to an answer.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI did not think the Question required an answer, but I will give one. It was not an appropriate occasion.