HC Deb 26 February 1914 vol 58 cc1928-9
15. Mr. CARR-GOMM

asked the Chief Secretary whether he has received any reports of a disturbance which is stated to have occurred between a battalion of the Leinster Regiment and the people of Athlone, on 4th November last year; whether he can say if on that occasion this regiment was hooted by the whole of the Nationalist populace, and had to hurry into barracks in order to prevent a popular outbreak; and what steps he has taken in the matter?

Mr. BIRRELL

The police inform me that the pipers of the Leinster Regiment, who arrived in Athlone a few days previously for the purpose of recruiting, paraded the streets on the evening of the 4th November last. A local band of Irish pipers turned out, and, followed by a crowd much smaller than the soldiers' crowd, also marched up and down the streets, but, beyond some groaning and cheering, there was no disturbance; and the suggestion that the regiment was hooted by the populace and had to hurry into barracks is untrue.

Mr. CARR-GOMM

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that this story, which was considered good enough for an electioneering speech at a recent by-election, is a complete travesty of what happened?

Mr. MOORE

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is or is not a fact that the crowd which was assembled was a demonstration against recruiting for the British Army?

Mr. BIRRELL

No, Sir. I have made particular inquiries into this matter, and I find, which I very much rejoice to hear, that the Leinster Regiment was received with great favour by the people of Athlone. Its beautiful band played on four different occasions, and was listened to with much approval and approbation by a musically-minded population.

Mr. MOORE

The right hon. Gentleman has been at pains not to answer my question. I ask him, was the crowd that assembled in the street, as everyone knows, a demonstration against recruiting for the Leinster or any other regiment?

Mr. BIRRELL

Not at all. It was a crowd which followed a small band of Irish pipers.

Mr. HARRY LAWSON

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that four different Irish papers of reputation published a report quite bearing out—[HON. MEMBERS: "Name."]

Mr. SPEAKER

It really does not matter to us what the Irish papers say.