§ 40. Mr. BYRNEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that two American citizens, passengers on the liner "Philadelphia" which arrived at Liverpool from New York on Monday, have been refused permission to land to proceed to Ireland; if he is aware 2056 that the two, Thomas Hughes Kelly and Joseph Smith Kelly, are treasurers to the Irish Relief Fund of America; if he is aware that they were proceeding to Ireland to superintend the distribution of relief moneys raised in America; if he is aware that their passports were endorsed by the British Consulate-General in New York; if he will say when they will be allowed to proceed to Ireland; and why they were refused?
Mr. SAMUELThere is no objection to admitting persons from America to assist in the distribution of the relief fund, and two visitors who came for this purpose have been admitted. Mr. Joseph Smith, the ostensible object of whose visit was as stated, was refused admission because there was good ground for believing that he was engaged in business hostile to this country, and Mr. Kelly was so closely associated with him that he also had to be refused permission to land.
§ Mr. LYNCHIs the right hon. Gentleman perfectly sure that that was the position of Mr. Joseph Smith, who is a man who is held in high repute in America, and will he take note that this is one of the very matters as to which it is advisable not to irritate public opinion in America?
§ Mr. BYRNEWhy do the Government stop American citizens doing what the British Government should do—compensate the victims of the rebellion in Ireland?