§ 15. Mr. KINGasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether clergy have threatened the penalty of eternal damnation on members of their Church if they obeyed the law in Ireland in relation to compulsory military service; and whether prosecutions of clergy for this offence have been, or will be, undertaken?
§ Mr. SAMUELSI am not aware that any one has made a statement attributing to clergy a threat that persons in Ireland who obey the law in relation to compulsory military service would be liable to the penalty of eternal damnation. Statements of a different character, to which I presume the hon. Member refers, were made in regard to persons who assisted in enforcing the law as to compulsory service. As to the last part of the question, I decline to make any statement.
§ Mr. KINGIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these words, "threatened the penalty of eternal damnation," are taken from a speech delivered by a member of the War Cabinet in another place, who said at the time that he was correct in his quotation?
§ Mr. ARCHDALEHas the right hon. Gentleman seen the letter in the "Times" to-day from Lord Curzon about it?
§ Mr. SAMUELSI have seen the letter in the papers to-day, and it speaks for itself. As to the question of the hon. Member for North Somerset (Mr. King) regarding the use of the words "eternal damnation," I have seen them in the quotation, but the hon. Member misrepresents the collocation of them.