§ MR. H. C. LEATo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if, having regard to the fact that the Vice-Regal Inquiry was confined by the terms of the reference and the ruling of the Commissioners solely to the question of the negligence of Sir Arthur Vicars, and that the findings of the Commissioners have not satisfied public opinion or allayed the feelings of mistrust in the public mind in reference to the disappearance of the jewels, he would now grant a public and judicial inquiry into the whole circumstances of the loss of the jewels, the alleged negligence of Sir Arthur Vicars, and the charges against his character, with a view to ascertaining what person or persons were responsible for the loss.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) I have no reason whatever to suppose that the findings of the Commission have not satisfied public opinion, but rather the contrary. As I have stated more than 1519 once, no charge has been made against Sir Arthur Vicars, by or on behalf of the Government, other than that of negligence in the custody of the jewels, and this charge was fully established by the findings of the Commissioners upon the evidence adduced before them. A public and judicial inquiry with the object of fixing criminal responsibility for the theft is out of the question. The discovery of the criminal is a matter for the police, who are still prosecuting their inquiries, and criminal proceedings will be taken if and when sufficient evidence is forthcoming.