HC Deb 14 August 1916 vol 85 cc1419-20
Mr. KEATING

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War a question of which I have given him private notice. Is he aware that the military authorities in Ireland have forbidden the holding of a meeting arranged for to-morrow in county Donegal, to be addressed by the hon. Member for East Mayo (Mr. Dillon), the hon. Member for West Belfast (Mr. Devlin), the hon. Member for East Tyrone (Mr. W. A. Redmond), the hon. Member for East Donegal (Mr. E. Kelly), the hon. Member for South Donegal (Mr. J. Swift MacNeill), and the hon. Member for South Kilkenny (Mr. Keating), and what steps will he take to get the prohibition withdrawn?

Mr. FORSTER

I am afraid I have not much information to give. I made such inquiries as I could as soon as I received the notice of the question, and I understand it is quite a mistake to suppose the military authorities have prohibited this meeting. I am informed that is not the case. I believe there has been some difficulty about the running of special trams in connection with the meeting, but I cannot answer anything further, because I have no more information.

Sir W. BYLES

Have the civil authorities forbidden it?

Mr. FORSTER

I do not know; I am not responsible for the civil authorities.