Mr. PALMER(by Private Notice) asked the Lord Privy Seal whether there has been any change in the policy of the Government in regard to the treatment of the Sinn Fein suspects imprisoned in Wormwood Scrubs within the last forty-eight hours; if so, and with a view to allaying the feelings of irritation which have been caused, notably in Glasgow and Liverpool (where more than 200,000 Irish workers threaten an immediate hold-up of the port by a strike) he can make any statement to the House and to the country?
§ Mr. T. P. O'CONNORI have a question of the same kind, namely, if the right hon. Gentleman has received information from the Lord Mayor of Liverpool and the Chief Constable of the possibility of a strike of Irish workmen in that city as a protest against the treatment of the Irish political prisoners at Wormwood Scrubs and demanding their release, and whether the Government will not by immediate action prevent this disaster to the city of Liverpool?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThere has been no change of policy. As in previous cases, men who have by persistent refusal of food reduced themselves to such a state that their lives are in danger are being removed to hospital, but the reasons for maintaining the internment of the prisoners still remain. The trouble among the Irish workers in Glasgow and Liverpool would, I feel sure, disappear if they could realise the actual facts. They have been told that the men are detained illegally and treated inhumanely. For these allegations there is no foundation. Their detention is lawful and their treatment is humane and lenient. Nothing could give the Government greater satisfaction than to put an end to these internments, but they are rendered necessary by the atrocious murders that prevail in Ireland and by the terrorism which makes it impossible to bring to trial the murderers and their accomplices.
§ Mr. O'CONNORI think it my duty to exhaust every means to avert this disaster in Liverpool, and accordingly I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the serious situation that has arisen in Liverpool and other centres of Great Britain in consequence of the Government's refusal to release the Irish political prisoners in Wormwood Scrubbs?
§ The pleasure of the House having been signified, the Motion stood over, under Standing Order No. 10, until a Quarter past Eight this evening.