Mr. NUGENTasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that numbers of Irish National Volunteers have been called upon to surrender their rifles; if so, by whom and at what date such order was made, and also if a similar order was made with reference to the Ulster Volunteers, and on what date; whether the rifles of the Ulster Volunteers have been surrendered; if so, will he state the number and the date; whether any of the Ulster Volunteers have declined or neglected to surrender their rifles; if so, what action it is proposed to take to deal with them; if he has asked for or received the permission of the president of the provisional government of Ulster before 50W taking any steps to take up the arms of the Ulster Volunteers, or does he intend to have a raid made on the places where the Ulster Volunteer rifles are stored and prosecute the leaders for not delivering the rifles to the Government; and whether he will postpone all proceedings against National Volunteers, and return the rifles already seized, until similar action is taken against the Ulster Volunteer leaders?
§ Mr. SHORTTI cannot make any general statement at present with regard to the matter referred to in the question, beyond saying that steps are in progress to secure the surrender of arms throughout the entire country.