§ 20. Mr. NEWMANasked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to resolutions passed at battalion and company meetings of the Irish National Volunteer force demanding the non-enforcement of the Proclamation to prohibit the importation of arms enacted by the Government; and whether, in view of the importance of the subject to masses of the Irish population which are at present unarmed, he will explain the attitude the Government intend to adopt on the question?
§ Mr. BIRRELLResolutions of the nature referred to have been published in the Press. The validity of the Proclamation prohibiting the importation of military arms and ammunition into Ireland has been recently called into question in the Courts, and the matter is still sub judice.
25. Mr. F. HALL (Dulwich)asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Irish Customs officers searched the Government steamer "Granuaile" for arms; if so, what were the grounds on which this step was taken; and whether any of the officers or crew of this vessel belong to the Irish National Volunteers?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe story is untrue. The steamer was not searched for arms, nor are any of the crew members of the Irish National Volunteers.
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe steamer was not searched.
Mr. F. HALLIn his reply the right hon. Gentleman said that the steamer was not searched for arms; therefore I ask him, was she searched at all, and, if so, for what purpose?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am sorry to say that the steamer was not searched for any purpose.