HC Deb 30 October 1919 vol 120 cc863-5
32. Mr. SHORT

asked whether all Irish Members of Parliament are permitted to address their constituents?

Mr. MACPHERSON

Irish Members of Parliament are not prevented from addressing their constituents if there is reason to believe that they will abstain from the use of inflammatory language or language calculated to incite to a disturbance of the public peace. In some parts of the country it has been deemed necessary, owing to the criminal activities of Sinn Fein, to prohibit, under the Defence of the Realm Regulations, the holding of public meetings, except with the permission of the local constabulary officer responsible for the preservation of the public peace, and such permission is not withheld where the circumstances justify it.

Mr. SWAN

Are their speeches perused before they are delivered?

Mr. MACPHERSON

Not that I know.

Mr. SWAN

Then why are they prevented from holding meetings?

Mr. MACPHERSON

The Irish Government know full well what type of speech will be delivered by a certain type-of men.

Captain W. BENN

Does the right hon. Gentleman take any steps to prevent meetings being held at which inflammatory speeches are delivered by the Leader of the Ulster party?

Mr. MACPHERSON

I know of no such speech.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Is Sinn Fein the only political party to which this rendering of the law applies and to which these drastic regulations are applied?

Mr. MACPHERSON

Since I went to Ireland the only party delivering inflammatory speeches inciting to the murder of the servants of the Crown has been the Sinn Fein party, and so long as these speeches are likely to be delivered by these men I will prohibit them.

Mr. MacVEAGH

Will the right hon. Gentleman now give to the House of Commons the names of those Sinn Fein Members of Parliament who have incited to the murder of policemen?

Mr. MACPHERSON

If my hon. Friend will put down a question I will give him the names.

Mr. MacVEAGH

Why do you not prosecute them?

Mr. MACPHERSON

I have prosecuted them, and a good many of them are in prison now.

Mr. MacVEAGH

On a charge of inciting to murder policemen?

Mr. MACPHERSON

Yes, on a charge of inciting to murder policemen.

Mr. MacVEAGH

That statement is also absolutely untrue.