§ 14. Mr. HOWARD GRITTENasked the Chief Secretary whether local authorities in Ireland who have refused to recognise the authority of the Crown are demanding payment of rates from persons who refuse to acknowledge the authority of the Irish, republican administration; and what steps he has taken or proposes to take in the matter?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; as regards the latter part, ample protection is given to any person in Ireland who refuses to pay an illegal demand.
§ Mr. GRITTENWhat is the nature of the protection to which the right hon. Gentleman alludes?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODWe have a very large armed police force and a much larger military force prepared to assist any person who resists these demands.
§ Mr. PENNEFATHERAs a matter of fact, do they give any protection or assistance, or are they prevented from doing so?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThey are not.
Sir R. HALLDoes this protection consist in protecting the individual summoned, or does it take the form of action against those who are summoning, which is the best protection?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSIs it not a fact that the Corporation of Dublin by its Town Clerk regularly summons people before the Sinn Fein Court in Dublin?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThere was a Court of that kind on the day on which the Conference assembled in London. I had to use my discretion as to whether I would break up that Court by force on the day the Conference assembled, or submit the matter to the Sinn Fein representatives with a view to the discontinuance of the Court. I chose the latter course as the better one, and it has been successful. This Court in Dublin does not sit.