§ 47. Mr. GALLACHERasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the refusal of His Majesty's Government to allow the remains of the late Roger Casement to be exhumed and transferred to Ireland is causing dissatisfaction in the Irish Free State Dominion; and whether he will take steps to satisfy the Irish people in this matter?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThis matter has been very fully considered by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, but they have found themselves unable to authorise the removal.
§ Mr. LOGANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the precedent when the English Government allowed the remains of Napoleon to be brought from St. Helena, and is there any reason why one of the citizens of Ireland should not be allowed to be taken back?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am aware of that, but I do not think the cases are parallel.
§ Mr. GALLACHERCan the right hon. Gentleman give any particular reason, financial or otherwise, for the refusal to allow this removal to take place, because there is a strong feeling in the Irish Free State in regard to this matter?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am aware that there is or may be strong feeling in Ireland, but, on the other hand, there is strong feeling in this country, and on weighing the balance of the two cases, I could not see that any action of this kind would tend to improve the relations mutually between the two countries.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODDoes not the Prime Minister think that this is an opportunity for a gracious act on the part of His Majesty's Government to the Irish Free State which would mitigate the evils that have arisen?