HC Deb 03 November 1920 vol 134 cc347-50
47. Mr. HOGGE

asked the Prime Minister whether the coffin containing the remains of the late Lord Mayor of Cork was forcibly seized by agents of the Government at Holyhead on Thursday and conveyed by them to Cork; and, if so, by what authority, on whose instructions, and on what grounds was this action taken?

The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Lieut.-Colonel Sir H. Greenwood)

I addressed the following letter to the relatives of the late Lord Mayor of Cork, which was handed prior to their arrival at Holyhead: 28th October, 1920. I am advised that the landing and funeral of the late Lord Mayor in Dublin may lead to demonstrations of a political nature. I regret, therefore, that the Irish Government cannot allow the disembarkation of the remains of the late Lord Mayor at any other port in Ireland except his native city, Cork. In order to save you every inconvenience the Government has directed the London and North Western Railway Company to provide a suitable steamer to carry the remains direct to Cork from Holyhead. This steamer will also convey you and twenty of your friends if you so desire. The instructions to carry the terms of this letter into effect were issued by the Home Office and the Irish Office respectively, acting on military advice, and with the authority of His Majesty's Government. This action was taken in order to minimise the risk of inflaming public feeling in Dublin, which might have led to breaches of the peace and loss of innocent lives. The coffin and wreaths were moved with all reverence from the train to the boat by officials of the railway company. The relatives and friends to the number of 20 were offered passages to Cork on the same steamer, but they declined.

Mr. HOGGE

May I ask first if my right hon. Friend indicated to Mrs. McSwiney in London that the cortége would not be taken to Dublin, and offered her an alternative then, before the procession started at all, to go straight to Cork?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

No. The letter was addressed to Mrs. McSwiney, two sisters, and, I think, two brothers and the solicitor, and it was anticipated that she would be on the train. I believe, unfortunately, she was taken ill, and was not able to accompany the cortége.

Sir W. DAVISON

Is it a fact that the coffin of the Lord Mayor had an inscription on it to the effect, "Murdered by the British Government," and was the coffin carried through the streets of London by men of the Sinn Fein Army in uniform?

Colonel C. LOWTHER

Is it not a fact that extraordinary respect was paid to the dead, and that the instructions of the Government were both sympathetic and large-minded?

Mr. J. H. THOMAS

Was there any reason why this alteration could not have been conveyed earlier than the last day, instead of waiting till the last moment and then upsetting the whole arrangement; and was not the fear justified by the result?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

I do not follow the last part of the question. It was impossible to give notice earlier than I did, because the original plan was to allow the relatives to do what they wished with the remains of the late Lord Mayor, but urgent messages were received in the afternoon of the funeral in London that the lives of innocent people would be endangered if the body of the late Lord Mayor were conveyed to Dublin, and that it would be used, as it was intended to be used, by the Sinn Fein leaders, as a great political demonstration. I had no course open, therefore, when that advice came to me than to change the arrangements already made. I did it with every consideration for those to whom the late Lord Mayor was nearest. The steamer put at their disposal was one of the best we had. The body was escorted by part of the Auxiliary Division Force of Dublin, which is composed entirely of ex-officers of the British Army, and part of the Metropolitan Police, and I have not heard a complaint as to the reverence and respect paid to the body of a man with whose views I, at any rate, differed as far as possible.

Mr. DEVLIN

Is it a fact that this political demonstration, which was to be a great national tribute to a man who at least displayed superb courage in a very materialistic age, took place just the same, and that the only thing that was absent from the demonstration previously organised was the corpse of the Lord Mayor?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

That is quite a different thing.

Mr. MacVEAGH

Does the right hon. Gentleman suggest that the sending of a large force of police in the train, and having a large force of "Black and Tans" to meet it at Holyhead was all done as a mark of respect to the late Lord Mayor?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

I never made any such suggestion.

Mr. MacVEAGH

You did.

Sir H. GREENWOOD

There were no "Black and Tans" at Holyhead. I specifically asked for members of the Auxiliary Division, composed entirely of selected and gallant officers of the British Army, and I did that because I was informed that 400 Sinn Feiners were going to accompany the boat from Holyhead to Dublin.

Mr. MacVEAGH

Was that true?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

That was my information, and it was my business to preserve peace on the steamers, whether going to Dublin or Cork, and to see that a suitable force should arrive with the members of the party in Dublin also.

Mr. HOGGE

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether Mrs. McSwiney was consulted, and that it was her wish that the body should go to Dublin, or is it the case that she was not consulted, and that if she had been consulted she would have been quite agreeable that the coffin should go straight to Cork?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

I know nothing of that.

Mr. DEVLIN

rose—

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member must put down any further question.

Mr. DEVLIN

I would not have risen again, but I put a supplementary question upon a very important matter.

Mr. SPEAKER

The more important it is, the more necessary it is to see it on the Paper.