HC Deb 15 February 1917 vol 90 c789
14. Major NEWMAN

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, following on the visit to Cork of a battalion of oversea troops, the shop fronts of business establishments which had displayed the Union Jack were marked with a white cross, and the following notice posted on them: "From this shop the Union Jack was displayed on the occasion of a visit of some Canadian soldiers; will you support a firm which approved the sinful spending of £500 on debauchery; will you support a firm which displays this cheap and mercenary loyalty?"; have any investigations been made by the authorities into the occurrence; and with what result?

Mr. DUKE

Some ill-disposed person or persons posted a typewritten notice in the words set forth in the question on the shop front of each of fourteen business houses. The notices were seen by the police and taken down. There were no white crosses. The police have not been able to trace the offenders. I ought to add that the Irish-Canadians were received in Cork with general enthusiasm, and that the incident the hon. Member has mentioned does not at all represent the opinions expressed by the citizens at large.