§ 25. Mr. LYNCHasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that, previous to the Dublin rebellion, membership of the Sinn Fein organisation was consistent with conformity with the law; whether his official information shows that at any time the Sinn Fein newspaper had committed any act of illegality; whether any precedent can be cited for retrospectively making actions illegal which were not illegal when committed; and, if not, whether he will release from prison Mr. Arthur Griffiths and offer him suitable compensation for his prolonnged detention?
§ Mr. DUKEI cannot deal by answer to questions with the matters of argument raised by the hon. Member. The fact is, as I am informed, that Mr. Arthur Griffiths has been interned under an order of the Home Secretary under Article 14 B of the Defence of the Realm Regulations as a person of hostile association. In these circumstances, there can be no question of granting him compensation for his arrest and internment.
§ Mr. LYNCHMight I ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman to have this case looked into, on the ground that Mr. Griffiths certainly has been guilty of no crime since the rebellion; and if he was guilty of any infringement of the law before that event, why was he not then prosecuted?
§ Mr. DUKEThat is a matter of argument which, with great respect to the House, I think it is impossible to deal with in answering a question.