HC Deb 01 December 1920 vol 135 cc1235-6
53. Sir WILLIAM DAVISON

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to a Sinn Fein pamphlet entitled, "The Unanimous Declaration of the Episcopate of Ireland," which purports to be signed or issued with the authority of Cardinal Logue, the Catholic Archbishops of Dublin, Cashel, and Tuam, and 25 Irish Roman Catholic Bishops; whether, without making any allusion to Sinn Fein murders and other crimes, the said pamphlet charges the British Government with having established a reign of terror in Ireland, of being responsible for the assassination of guiltless persons, and generally of having organised atrocities similar to the atrocities of the Turkish terror, or the excesses of the Bed Bolshevik armies in Russia, while at the same time the Press has been gagged and public meetings suppressed; whether he is aware that this pamphlet is being largely circulated in Belgium, France, and other foreign countries and in the Colonies; whether he has ascertained whether Cardinal Logue and the other Roman Catholic Archbishops and Bishops have admitted their responsibility for the statements contained in the pamphlet; and whether our representative at the Vatican has made representations on the matter to the Pope, and with what result?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I have no information in regard to the pamphlet. I am applying to the Irish Office for information about it.

Sir W. DAVISON

Assuming that the facts are as stated, will the right hon. Gentleman see that representations are made to the Vatican as stated in the last part of the question?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I hardly think it is necessary to make such representations. I should like to see the document first.

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