"WEEKLY SUMMARY." (Hansard, 22 February 1921)

§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Colonel Sir Hamar Greenwood)
I rise to say a few words of personal explanation and apology in reference to something that I said yesterday. During the course of the Debate yesterday in good faith I quoted from a French newspaper, namely, La Nouvelliste, printed at Rennes in Brittany, dated 13th January, which contained a map of what are called English devastations in Ireland. It is an accurate map as issued by certain persons here in England. I quoted from the letterpress of this newspaper which was signed "M. Masterman, former Minister of the Asquith Cabinet." I understand that the right hon. Gentleman, Mr. Masterman, denies ever having written this, said it, or actually seen the map. This has just recently come to my notice—Mr. Masterman's denial—and I take this first opportunity of expressing my profound regret for using this quotation, and in accusing Mr. Masterman and the right hon. Gentleman, the Member for Paisley, of being parties to its issue abroad. The position in Ireland is grave enough as nobody knows better than I do. I hope the House will acquit me of any desire to involve in that great issue any question of personality, and I take this the first opportunity of apologising, and of withdrawing unqualifiedly anything I said in reference to this yesterday.

§ Sir D. MACLEAN
I am sure Mr. Masterman and also my right hon Friend the Member for Paisley will appreciate to the full the apology which my right hon. Friend has just made. Mr. Master-man himself telephoned me about a couple of hours ago on this matter, and I had no opportunity at all of communicating to my right hon. Friend what Mr. Masterman said to me. But he, in the most unqualified manner, denied he was either directly or indirectly connected in any way with the article in the paper to which my right hon. Friend has just referred. I would also add this: that he had made inquiries also at the Liberal Publications Department, and they had nothing whatever, directly or indirectly, to do with the publication on the Con- 888 tinent to which my right hon. Friend refers. I will only say this, while accepting in the letter and in the spirit what my right hon. Friend has said, I do hope that he will exercise all due care in future, and if he has charges of this kind to make I am certain he, with his goodwill and desire to be fair, before he makes charges of that kind, will make some inquiry to see whether there is any ground for them.

§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY
Might I add one word on this matter? I have been accused in the same way of doing this sort of thing. We are all very glad the right hon. Gentleman has seen his way to make this apology. I receive almost daily communications anonymously of a publication called the "Irish Summary," which comes from Sinn Fein sources. I never accept anything that appears in those summaries without taking steps to verify it. Everything we say here is repeated abroad. This House is a sounding-board, and whatever is said on either side of the Table gets printed in larger prominence in foreign papers than in this country. I hope the right hon. Gentleman will realise that we understand that when we speak here we speak with a great sense of responsibility. The very last thing we desire to do is to weaken in any way the prestige of this country abroad. But we feel we are serving the best interests of our country in the long run in criticising what is contrary to its ancient traditions in Ireland.

§ Mr. LYLE-SAMUEL
In view of the fact that reference has been made to the Debate of yesterday, may I say that in last week's edition of the "Weekly Summary" there is a statement that those opposed to the Government policy admit the right to murder. The Chief Secretary last night, with very little restraint, accused those who are at present in opposition to his policy of condoning and inciting to murder, and I should like to have from the Chief Secretary, in view of the repudiation of every Member on this side of the House of any sympathy whatsoever with murder, an apology for that statement in the "Weekly Summary." which may have escaped his own personal notice. I would like him to apologise for suggesting that we are in any way or in any degree in agreement with the policy of murder.

§ Sir H. GREENWOOD
I wish to make it clear that I made no accusation against anyone's personal honour or sincerity in this matter. My point was that certain speeches or parts of speeches gave encouragement to enemies of this country. I do not think that is a question for apology. I repeat what I said, that Irish matters are too grave for personalities, and if I have tried to score a point by personalities I profoundly regret it.

§ Major MACKENZIE WOOD
The question is quite clear. I have here the "Weekly Summary," and it states definitely that the opponents of the Government stand for the right to murder. This is the publication which is sent out by the right hon. Gentleman. It is paid for out of public funds, and it is put down here in black and white without any kind of qualification whatsoever. I want to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he ever held and still believes that the opponents of the Government stand for the right to murder.

§ Mr. SPEAKER
The hon. Member is not quite fairly quoting. My attention has been called to this particular paragraph, but it would be better if the hon. Member would read the whole of it. It seemed to me that the particular sentence refers only to what is actually going on in Ireland at the present moment—the campaign carried on by the Sinn Feiners.

§ Major WOOD
I cannot accept the interpretation which is put upon it, and if it is necessary I will read the whole paragraph, and I will leave it for the House to say whether or not I am right in the interpretation which I have put upon it. It is longer than I should like to but it seems to me I am compelled to do it now. It is headed: