HC Deb 22 May 1919 vol 116 c538
11. Mr. MacVEAGH

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the "Grammar of Anarchy" and the "Handbooks for Rebels" are still suppressed by the Government in Ireland?

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRE-LAND (Mr. A. W. Samuels)

The answer is in the affirmative.

Mr. MacVEAGH

Can the right Gentleman tell me why these volumes are suppressed, seeing that they merely contain reports of speeches delivered by members of the War Cabinet and their friends?

Mr. SAMUELS

This question has been addressed to me and answers given before, but having regard to the tendency to anarchy and rebellion already existing in Ireland it is the opinion of His Majesty's Government that neither handbooks for rebels nor grammars of anarchy are required.

Mr. MacVEAGH

Is the Attorney-General aware that "The Grammar of Anarchy" is a title taken from a speech of the Prime Minister? Can he tell us, therefore, what is wrong about the title, seeing that the title is taken from a member of the Government?

Mr. SAMUELS

Of course my hon. Friend has studied these books.

Mr. MacVEAGH

This is a very important matter. I have studied them myself; I have read them from cover to cover, and there is nothing whatever in them except extracts from speeches delivered by the Cabinet. I want to know, have the Cabinet sat down at a round table to decide that they should suppress the reports of their own speeches?

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