§ MR. LONSDALE (Armagh, Mid.)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether the returns of recruiting for the Army in Ireland during the year 1905 show any falling off in number compared with previous years; if so, to what extent; and whether the recruiting officers attribute the decrease to the movement fostered by the Gaelic League, and known as the Sinn Fein policy.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The returns for recruiting in Ireland during the year 1905 show a falling off in numbers as compared with previous years, but this decrease is general throughout the United Kingdom. I have no reason for believing that the Gaelic League is an organisation which aims at affecting recruiting in one way or the other, nor have I any evidence that this or any other body has had an appreciable effect on recruiting in Ireland.