§ Mr. LANSBURYI beg to ask the Home Secretary a question, of which I have given him private notice, whether he is aware that at the demonstration in Hyde Park yesterday a disturbance caused by the insulting remarks of a well-dressed man took place, and that the police, acting under orders, closed the exits from the park, refusing to allow those who wished to leave to do so; and that when the crowd was making its way back to the meeting place constables and officers of all kinds committed unprovoked assaults upon old and young; by what authority the police refused to allow persons to leave the park, and by whose orders was a cordon drawn round the crowd so that whichever way people moved they were hustled by the police; and if he will issue instructions that the police are to arrest persons guilty of breaches of the law and not assault them, and also to remove from such open-air meetings persons whose conduct causes a breach of the peace, instead of hustling and assaulting those persons who resent the interruption?
§ Mr. McKENNAAs the suffragists occupied the usual meeting ground near the Reformers' Tree, the meeting organised on behalf of the transport workers was held on ground known as the Guards' Ground facing the roadway between Grosvenor and Stanhope Gates, and at a greater distance from Hyde Park Police Station than the Reformers' Tree. My information is 43 that while speeches were being made some person in the crowd called out for three cheers for Lord Devonport and was immediately set upon, knocked down and badly treated. The police at once closed round him for his protection and commenced to remove him towards Grosvenor Gate, the nearest and most convenient exit from the park. A large crowd followed coming up from all sides, and the police were hustled, missiles were thrown, chairs, bottles, stones, etc., and several arrests had to be made. The persons arrested and the man who was under protection were got to Grosvenor Gate, and as the police anticipated serious trouble if the large crowd following them got into Park Lane, they closed Grosvenor Gate. Their action probably prevented serious disorder in the streets. No other exit from the park was closed. No cordon was drawn round the meeting; the number of police available would not have made this possible. The crowd that had assembled in the vicinity of Grosvenor Gate was then dispersed by the police. I have no reason to think that the police unnecessarily hustled the crowd or did more than was required to prevent the disorder from developing into serious rioting.
§ Mr. LANSBURYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the statement he made as to the calling of three cheers for Lord Devonport is absolutely untrue and that a cordon was not drawn round the crowd? Is he aware the suggestion is that a cordon was drawn not round the people, but round that part of the road near Grosvenor Gate, and that not only were the public refused permission to go out at Grosvenor Gate, but that a line of patrols refused to allow people to go out at the Marble Gate entrance? And will the right hon. Gentleman allow an inquiry to be set up into the whole of the circumstances, because I can say from personal observation that the statement that has been made is absolutely inaccurate from beginning to end? [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] Well! I was there.
§ Mr. McKENNAThe information which I have read to the House is the information supplied to me by representatives of the police force who were present. I will certainly investigate the facts alleged by my hon. Friend, but I would point out to him that it is quite possible the statements are not inconsistent. My hon. Friend did not hear the persons who were subsequently badly treated shout out, "Three cheers 44 for Lord Devonport," but it does not follow from that they did not in fact do so.
§ Mr. LANSBURYI beg to give notice that on the Motion for the Adjournment this evening I shall raise the whole matter. It is impossible by answer and question to state my view of the case. I was there the whole time.
§ Mr. McKENNAI am afraid that there will not be sufficient time to make complete inquiries between this and the Adjournment to-night.
§ Mr. LANSBURYGive us the Adjournment now.
§ Mr. McKENNAIf my hon. Friend will raise the question to-morrow on the Adjournment, I think I shall then be able to answer it.
§ Mr. LANSBURYI beg to give notice that I will put my case to-night and give the right hon. Gentleman an opportunity of answering it.