§ Mr. SPEAKER informed the House that he had received the following letter relating to the imprisonment of a Member:
§ "General Headquarters, Ireland,
§ Parkgate, Dublin.
§ 1st November, 1919.
§ Sir,
§ I have the honour to report that Mr. Ernest Blythe. M.P. for North Monaghan, who was arrested on 12th September. 1919, under a direction issued by the General Officer Commanding Southern District, Ireland, has been tried by district court-martial in Dublin, and sentenced to imprisonment without hard labour for one year, for the following offence against Regulation 27 of the Defence of the Regulations:
§ Having in his possession, without lawful authority or excuse a document containing statements the publication of which would be likely to prejudice the discipline of the Royal Irish Constabulary.
§ The sentence has been duly confirmed, and the accused committed to prison.
§ I have the honour to be. Sir,
§ Your obedient servant,
§ F. SHAW,
§ Lieutenant-General, Commanding-in-Chief, Ireland.
§ To the flight Honourable The Speaker,
§ House of Commons,
§ London, S.W. 1."