§ MR. WILLIAM MOOREI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if the recent interview at Athenry between the Under - Secretary and Mr. Thomas Higgins, the chairman of the executive of the North Galway branch of the United Irish League, was arranged by the Under-Secretary; if this was done with the previous knowledge or sanction of the Chief Secretary; if their conversation related to the peace of the district; if any minute or report of this meeting has been furnished by the Under-Secretary; and, if so, does it appear why such an interview was necessary; and, if the Under-Secretary, in fact, acted beyond his authority in this matter, what steps will be taken by the Government.
§ MR. WALTER LONGThe Under-Secretary had arranged, at the request of the Congested Districts Board, to visit Galway on the business of the Board before I entered office, and had also agreed with the agent of the Maxwell Estate to endeavour to effect an agreement in regard to the dispute existing there be- 1144 tween the landlord and tenants. I expressed my approval of the intended visit, but indicated certain limitations in the Under-Secretary's inquiries which Sir Antony MacDonnell informs me he strictly observed. The Under-Secretary met men of various classes, and on all suitable occasions made it clear that the commission of outrage or acts of intimidation and boycotting would seriously retard the success of the Land Purchase Act, and could not possibly be tolerated by the Executive Government. The Under-Secretary had an interview with Mr. Higgins, who was reported to him from different sources as possessing much influence with the people. He was told that he was Chairman of the District Board, but was not informed that Mr. Higgins was also officially connected with the United Irish League. This fact came to the Under-Secretary's knowledge subsequently from the newspapers.
§ MR. WILLIAM MOOREThen does the right hon. Gentleman approve the interview?
§ MR. WALTER LONGI have said it was undertaken with my full knowledge and approval.
§ MR. WILLIAM MOOREI understand from the Answer that the Chief Secretary did not know that Mr. Higgins was to be interviewed. I ask him, if he had known, would he have approved of it?
§ MR. WALTER LONGWhat I did not know was that Mr. Higgins was a prominent official of the United Irish League; and that was not known by the Under-Secretary.