§ 46. Mr. GINNELLasked the Prime Minister whether the military authorities in Ireland at the time of the insurrection had Government sanction, either in advance or subsequently, for bombarding the headquarters of the Cumann-na-mban nurses, cutting the red crosses off their dresses, and imprisoning them as criminals; and what has been the result to Colonel Portal of his special activity in this conduct?
§ Mr. FORSTERMy right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has asked me to answer this question. There is no truth in the insinuations contained in this question, and the question of Government sanction does not therefore arise. The head quarters of the Cumann-na-mban were at No. 2, Dawson Street, and this was not bombarded. This society, I am informed, has nothing to do with the Red Cross. The majority of the women arrested carried arms and some are known to have used them.
§ Mr. GINNELLIn view of the hon. Gentleman's insolent answer—[HON. MEMBERS: "Order!"]—I must ask permission to inquire. [HON. MEMBERS: "Withdraw!"]
§ Mr. SPEAKERI did not quite catch what the hon. Member said.
§ Mr. GINNELLIn view of the hon. Member's insolent answer——
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is not a proper way in which to refer to a Minister.
§ Mr. GINNELLIn view of the hon. Gentleman's insolent answer——
§ Mr. SPEAKERrose——
§ Mr. GINNELLIn view of the insolent answer——[HON. MEMBERS: "Order!" and "Sit down"]. I am accused of want of truth, and I am entitled——[HON. MEMBERS: " Order!"]
§ Mr. SPEAKERI must ask the hon. Member to conform to the Rules of the House.
§ Mr. GINNELLI must ask whether Colonel Portal denies the allegation in this question?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI must call on the hon. Member to ask Question 47.
§ Mr. GINNELLHe does not deny it, because if he did he would be telling a lie. I ask whether Colonel Portal denies the allegation in this question—whether he denies that he ordered his men to cut the Red Crosses off the nurses' dresses and that the men carried out these orders'! [HON. MEMBERS: "Order!"] Are you aware that——
§ Mr. SPEAKERIf the hon. Member cannot behave himself properly, I will ask him to withdraw.
§ Mr. GINNELLI am behaving myself.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI shall not call on the hon Member for any further question.
§ Mr. GINNELLI beg to ask Question 47. It is on the Paper.
§ Mr. SPEAKERAs the hon. Member cannot comply with the ordinary customs of the House, I shall not call upon him to ask any further questions.
§ Mr. GINNELLUnder what Standing Order do you deny me the right of asking a question which is printed on the Paper?
§ Mr. SPEAKERUnder the Standing Order dealing with disorderly conduct.
§ Mr. GINNELLWhen did it become disorderly conduct to ask a question on the Paper and defend the truth of the question?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI have already called the attention of the hon. Member to the fact that his language is disorderly, and that it is contrary to practice and disorderly for him to persist in speaking while I am on my legs.
§ Mr. GINNELLIs it disorderly to maintain the truth of the question on the Paper?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is disorderly to use the language which the hon. Gentleman has been using and to conduct himself in the way in which he has been conducting himself.
§ Mr. GINNELLDo you say that it is disorderly to maintain the truth of the question on the Paper?
§ Mr. SPEAKERhaving called Question 48,
§ Mr. McKENNArose——
§ Mr. GINNELLI ask Question 47!
§ Mr. SPEAKERIf the hon. Member persists in interrupting the proceedings, I shall call on him to withdraw.
§ Mr. GINNELLI have already asked Question 47.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI have already told the hon. Member that I will not allow it.
§ Mr. GINNELLYou are violating the Rules!
§ Mr. SPEAKERI call upon the hon. Member to withdraw.
§ Mr. GINNELLI follow the Paper in my hand.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI have to call the attention of the House to the fact that the hon. Member for North Westmeath, after having been called upon to withdraw, declines to withdraw. I must name him to the House.
§ The PRIME MINISTERMr. Speaker having named the hon. Member for North Westmeath, I beg to move that he be suspended from the service of the House.
§ Mr. GINNELLFor how long?
§ Question, "That Mr. Ginnell be suspensed from the service of the House," put, and agreed to.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI must ask the hon. Member to withdraw.
§ Mr. GINNELLI must ask Question 47!
§ Mr. SPEAKERI call upon the Serjeant-at-Arms to remove the hon. Member, in obedience to the Order of the House.
The Serjeant-at-Arms approached Mr. Ginnell, who declined to withdraw.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThen I shall suspend the Sitting of the House until such time as the hon. Member has withdrawn.
Sitting suspended at Twenty-seven minutes past Three o'clock.
§ The hon. Member for North "Westmeath having retired, the Sitting was resumed at 3.33 p.m.