§ MR. LONSDALEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state the result of his further inquiries into the state of affairs on the Crannagh farm, county Roscommon; whether he is aware that twelve tenants, under stress of the boycott, have served notice to surrender their holdings; and, seeing that at a meeting held on Easter Sunday it was decided to pursue the campaign of boycotting until the remaining tenants were forced into submission, whether he will state what action he proposes to take.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe police have been informed that all the tenants of the Crannagh Farm except one have served notice of their intention to surrender their holdings. I have already distinctly informed the hon. Member, on the authority of the local police, that these men have not been boycotted. It seems, however, that strong local feeling was manifested in favour of the division of the farm among neighbouring small occupiers, and the tenants would appear to have been influenced by that feeling. I am aware that a statement to the effect mentioned in the latter part of the Question has appeared in a Dublin newspaper, but the police inform me that no language bearing any such interpretation was used at the meeting referred to. I do not propose to take any special action in the matter. I have already stated that the police will afford full Protection to all persons in the exercise of their legal rights.
§ MR. LONSDALEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these people have been forced to surrender their farms by the United Irish League?
§ MR. BIRRELLNo, Sir.
§ MR. FLAVINWas not the spirit which promoted the passing of the Land 60 Act of 1903 based on the understanding that these grass lands should be broken up?
§ [No Answer was returned.]