§ MR. J. MACVEAGH (Down, S.)I desire to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland if his attention has been called to an urgent appeal issued yesterday to Members of this House to provide Lord Ashtown with £3,000 a year to enable him to circulate accounts of alleged crimes in Ireland. Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the statement in it that events are constantly happening in Ireland of a most startling, shocking, and outrageous character, do the police reports confirm this allegation, and can any steps be taken to put a stop to Lord Ashtown's scandalous campaign?
§ * MR. SPEAKERI do not think the penultimate word used by the hon. Member is in order, when referring to a Member of the other House.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLHe is not a Member of the other House. He is only an Irish Peer.
§ * MR. SPEAKERStill, he is not hers to defend himself.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLHe can appeal to the Courts.
§ MR. J. MACVEAGHI will withdraw the word "scandalous" and substitute "mischievous."
§ MR. BIRRELLI did see the paper in question. I certainly considered it contained a misleading account of the position in Ireland, and I hope the people of England will not assume that the condition of Ireland is as described in that letter.
§ MR. CHARLES CRAIGIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the statements contained in this letter are taken out of one or other of the numerous Nationalist papers?
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order.