LORD ORANMORE AND BROWNEMy Lords, seeing the noble Lord (Lord Carlingford) in his place, I wish to ask him a Question, of which I have given him private Notice, with regard to a paragraph which appeared in The Daily Telegraph, and which was afterwards copied in The St. James's Gazette—I myself think that probably it has no foundation; but perhaps the noble Lord, or some other Member of the Government, may not be sorry to repudiate having had anything to do with the late unsavoury transaction, the negotiations which have taken place with the criminals in Ireland. My Question is, Whether the following statement is true or not:—
The Dublin correspondent of The Daily Telegraph telegraphed last night that in Dublin society there was much talk of a visit said to have been paid to Kilmainham by Lord Carlingford during his recent visit to this country. It was openly stated the other evening that this visit had taken place, and surprise was expressed that during the discussion of the question of the so-called Treaty of Kilmainham no reference was made to that conference of a Cabinet Minister with the imprisoned suspects.
§ LORD CARLINGFORDMy Lords, I do not desire to repudiate any part of the transactions in which I have taken a share with my Colleagues, as I think, for the good of Ireland. But as to the alleged fact about which the noble Lord opposite (Lord Oranmore and Browne) inquires, I see that a morning paper has been good enough to contradict it for me already. I am quite willing to state to the noble Lord that there is not the smallest shadow of foundation or excuse for such a story.