HC Deb 26 June 1913 vol 54 cc1203-5
13. Captain CRAIG

asked upon what date the Lord Lieutenant received the official information of the visit of the Home Fleet to Kingstown, and upon what date the information was conveyed from the Lord Lieutenant to the Kingstown Urban Council?

The following questions also stood upon the Paper:—

7 and 8. Mr. KERR-SMILEY

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland (1) whether the Lord Lieutenant intimated to the Lord Mayor of Dublin the intention of the Home Fleet to visit Kingstown; and, if so, what answer was returned by the Lord Mayor to the Lord Lieutenant's communication; and (2) upon what date the Lord Lieutenant received the official information of the visit of the Home Fleet to Kingstown; and upon what date the information was conveyed from the Lord Lieutenant to the Kingstown Urban Council?

9 and 10. Mr. RONALD M'NEILL

asked (1) upon what date the Lord Lieutenant received the official information of the visit of the Home Fleet to Kingstown; and upon what date the information was conveyed from the Lord Lieutenant to the Kingstown Urban Council; and (2) whether the Lord Lieutenant intimated to the Lord Mayor of Dublin the intention of the Home Fleet to visit Kingstown; and, if so, what answer was returned by the Lord Mayor to the Lord Lieutenant's communication?

11 and 12. Mr. GEORGE TERRELL

asked (1) whether the Lord Lieutenant intimated to the Lord Mayor of Dublin the intention of the Home Fleet to visit Kingstown; and, if so, what answer was returned by the Lord Mayor to the Lord Lieutenant's communication; and (2) upon what date the Lord Lieutenant received the official information of the visit of the Home Fleet to Kingstown; and upon what date the information was conveyed from the Lord Lieutenant to the Kingstown Urban Council?

Mr. BIRRELL

I will answer all these questions together. No communication was made by the Lord Lieutenant to the Lord Mayor, and no answer was therefore returned. During the third week in May the Lord Lieutenant received an official intimation of the intended visit of the Fleet to Kingstown. It has never been the practice for the Lord Lieutenant to inform local authorities regarding such visits, and no such communication was made in the present instance. Subsequently, however, in order that there might be no uncertainty regarding the visit of the Fleet, the Lord Lieutenant sent a telegram to the clerk of the Kingstown Urban Council informing him that the Fleet would arrive on the. 13th of June, the 12th having been the date originally fixed and published in the newspapers.

Captain CRAIG

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us when that telegram was sent off by the Lord Lieutenant?

Mr. BIRRELL

No, Sir. I do not know, but I can assure the hon. and gallant Gentleman that no inconveniece arose to the Kingstown authorities from it. They knew all about it, and they were able to entertain the Fleet with an entertainment and ball, which gave universal satisfaction and for which they received the thanks of the admiral.

Mr. MacVEAGH

Another mare's nest!