HC Deb 11 March 1926 vol 192 cc2567-9
18. Mr. DIXEY

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to a meeting at Kensington on Sunday night the 7th instant, when the hon. Member for Bow and Bromley (Mr. Lansbury) called upon soldiers, sailors, and airmen to refuse under any circumstances to shoot down the workers of Britain, and upon working-class men not to join the capitalist armies; and what action does he propose to take?

19. Sir FRANK MEYER

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to proceedings at a public meeting held at the Albert Hall, on Sunday, 7th March, where the hon. Member for Bow and Bromley urged members of His Majesty's forces to refrain from certain action under certain conditions; and whether he has taken, or intends to take, any action in the matter?

20. Commander FANSHAWE

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been drawn to speeches of a seditious character delivered in the Albert Hall on 7th March by the hon. Member for Bow and Bromley and the hon. Member for the Forest of Dean; and what steps he proposes to take?

21. Major-General Sir ALFRED KNOX

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been drawn to a speech, delivered by the hon. Member for Bow and Bromley at the Albert Hall on the 7th March; and whether, in view of the incitement to His Majesty's Forces contained in that speech to disobey possible lawful commands by heir officers, he will take such measures as the law provides?

22. Mr. SMITHERS

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to speeches delivered on the evening of Sunday, 7th March, at the Albert Hall; has he received an official report of the proceedings; has he consulted the Law Officers of the Crown; and what steps does he propose to take?

23. Colonel APPLIN

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the words of a Socialist speaker at the Albert Hall on Sunday the 7th instant, who urged all soldiers, sailors, and airmen at the meeting under no circumstances to fire on workers; and whether, in view of the nature of this speech, he will take immediate steps to enforce the Law?

24. Colonel WOODCOCK

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to a meeting held in the Albert Hall on the evening of 7th March, when the hon. Member for Bow and Bromley officiated as chairman and moved a resolution which is calculated to breed disaffection among the members of the fighting forces and incite troops to disobey their officers; and what action he proposes to take?

25. Mr. H. WILLIAMS

asked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to initiate any proceedings against the hon. Member for Bow and Bromley in respect of the seditious speech made by him at the Albert Hall last Sunday?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

I will answer these questions together. In my opinion, the speech of the hon. Member, which was delivered under somewhat melodramatic circumstances, does not in itself constitute a menace to the loyalty of the Forces of the Crown, but any further developments will be carefully watched by my Department.

Mr. DIXEY

Has the right hon. Gentleman put this case before the Law Officers of the Crown, and, if so, what advice did they give him?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

In the first place, I think it is not permitted to ask me to say what advice the Law Officers gave me; but I think I am entitled to say that I have not asked their advice in this matter.

Colonel WOODCOCK

Has the right hon. Gentleman considered this resolution, and does it not affirm that the Government are out to shoot the working people down?

Mr. MACKINDER

They have done so.

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

I have considered the resolution, and I think the suggestion in it is so ridiculous that it would be equally ridiculous on my part to make it the subject of a solemn prosecution.

Mr. W. THORNE

Was the speech in question any more violent than the speech of the right hon. Gentleman himself at Warrington on 13th December?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

Yes; I think it was considerably more.

Mr. BLUNDELL

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware whether it is true or not that the speech in question and the Resolution were drafted by learned counsel?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

I have no knowledge on that point.

Several hon. Members rose—

Mr. SPEAKER

Mr. Thorne !

Mr. ERSKINE

On a point of Order. May I call your attention, Mr. Speaker, to the fact that there were seven questions referring to this very important subject, upon which we feel very deeply?

Mr. SPEAKER

There might be 17 questions on the same subject, but one answer may do for them all.