§ 29. Mr. MacVEAGHasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, with reference to the "Grammar of Anarchy" and the "Handbook of Rebels" which have been suppressed by the Government, whether he can state the passages which are seditious and tend to the promotion of anarchy?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply already given to his similar question on this subject by my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General for Ireland.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these two publications consist exclusively of extracts from speeches delivered by members of the Government and their friends, and that there is absolutely nothing original in either of the volumes—that they consist entirely of the reports of those speeches?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe decision, with which I agree, was taken before I was at the Irish Office, but I saw those books this morning. I only got as far as the preface—that was enough for me.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHWill the right hon. Gentleman kindly answer the question? Is it not a fact that these two volumes consist exclusively of the reports of speeches delivered by members of the Government and their friends?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe right hon. Gentleman gave that reply in the first instance.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHWith all respect, he has not answered the question.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat was the statement made by the Chief Secretary for Ireland in reply to the first question—that they are extracts.
§ Mr. DEVLINSince the right hon. Gentleman has only read the preface, will he read the whole book, and then give an answer to the question?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI have far too much to do.
§ Mr. DEVLINIs it not a fact that this publication—composed of extracts, if he likes, from speeches of members of the Government, including the present Lord Chancellor—was circulated to the extent of 37,000 copies in the recent strike in Glasgow, and is there any reason why it should now be censored as regards the rest of the country?
§ Mr. MacVEAGHWhy was it passed by the Censor before publication?