asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the desirability of introducing general legislation enabling cities and towns, through their local authorities, to exercise some jurisdiction over the use of the name of a particular city or town, and so prevent the user of such name by mushroom traders, leading persons to believe that the concern is one of enormous importance; and will he receive a deputation from the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce to lay the facts more fully before him?

The bond fide use by a trader of the name of his place of business is recognised by Section 44 of the Trade Marks Act, and there would, I think, be considerable objection to any undue restriction of such a right. I understand that the proposal of my hon. Friend was submitted to, but it was not recommended by, the Merchandise Marks Committee. In these circumstances I do not think that I could usefully receive a deputation on the subject.

As this is a matter of great importance to large cities, will my right hon. Friend not be prepared to receive either a small deputation or a written statement?

I shall, of course, be very glad to do anything to facilitate the matter as far as my hon. Friend is concerned, but I think, in the first place, his constituents might put before me a written communication on the subject, and then I will consider whether a deputation could do any good.

Why does the right hon. Gentleman refuse to receive a deputation of so important a character as this?

I do not refuse to receive a deputation. All I have said is that I do not think in the meantime a deputation would further the matter at all, but I shall understand after a written communication has been made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the great importation of manufactured silk goods into the United Kingdom from Germany at prices, owing to the depreciated mark, much lower than the cost of production in this country; whether he is aware that there is great unemployment and short time in this industry; and whether he can now state what policy he intends to pursue in order to remedy this state of affairs?

I am aware the position in the silk trade is far from satisfactory, and that certain quantities of silk goods are being imported from Germany, but, so far as I can judge from the official statistics, they cannot be considered large as compared with the imports from Germany before the War. The imports of silk goods from Germany forms a very small proportion of the whole importation, most of it coming from other countries.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the prices of German silk manufactured goods are exactly half the price of English manufactures?

I am not aware of the figures my hon. Friend uses, but the imports from Germany are really infinitesimal as compared with the importation from France, for example.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that British manufacturers have put down very great machinery during the period of the War, and the men employed on these machines will be out of work unless something is done quickly?

I am not aware of the last fact to which my hon. Friend refers, but I repeat that the importation from Germany at present is really infinitesimal as compared with that from other countries.

The probabilities are that they will be very much increased in the next few months?

I am not aware of that.

Is manufactured silk supposed to be a key industry?

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that great unemployment is caused by the importation of manufactured silk goods from America, which puts a 60 per cent, duty on our goods and sends hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of manufactured goods into our country?

Of course we cannot debate these matters by question and answer. The question refers to Germany and I repeat that German imports are very small at present. The imports from America are also very small compared with what they are from France.

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain why it is that the cost of these articles has not been reduced to consumers in this country?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the cost of English manufactures is exactly double the cost in Germany?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that during the War the Steels and Busks Company, Limited, was started in Leicester, and but for their intervention several of the English corset manufacturers would have closed down; that before the War this industry was almost entirely in the hands of Germany, certain quantities coming over from America; that the Steels and Busks Company, Limited, have beaten the American competition, even without taking into consideration the rate of exchange, but that it is absolutely impossible for them to compete against prospective German competition, although the Germans do not at present appear to be delivering these goods to any extent to this country; that they are attracting the markets nearest to them first, for instance, Sweden, where these goods can be bought 30 per cent, cheaper from Germany; and that the British manufacturers foresee in the near future an attack on our market which may, and probably will, cause factories here to close down unless the Government comes to the assistance of the industry; and what action does he propose to take and when?

I am aware of the circumstances in which the company named by my hon. and gallant Friend was started. As I have already informed him, the effect of exchange fluctuation on industry is being carefully considered.

Is corset-making considered a key industry?

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider the question of introducing a Bill which will affect the financial exchanges?

I am considering that very topic now.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the figures covering the value of the importation of German-manufactured goods for the first 10 months of 1912, 1913, 1919, and 1920?

The value of articles wholly or mainly manufactured registered as consigned from Germany and imported into the United Kingdom during the first nine months of the years specified was approximately as follows:

Can the right hon. Gentleman really say, in view of these figures, that German imports are in finitesimal?

I did not say imports from Germany are infinitesimal. I said with regard to silk goods they are infinitesimal. I think the figures I have just given show at least that the imports at present do not approach what they were before the War.

Have the exports from this country to Germany during the years mentioned exceeded to a large extent the imports from Germany to this country?

I really cannot carry all the figures in my head. I am afraid the hon. Member will have to put down a question on the subject.

Is it not a fact that the commerce between England and Germany is very much below the commerce between England and Ireland?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of imported foreign manufactured goods in each month of this year; and whether he can at the same time quote the number of unemployed on the last day of each month?

The answer will involve a statistical table, and, with the hon. Member's permission, I will have this published in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can furnish a statement showing the character, quantities, and values of the goods, wholly or mainly manufactured, exported from the United Kingdom to Germany during the nine months ended 30th September, 1920?

The answer will involve a statistical statement, and, with my hon. Friend's permission, I will have the particulars published in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as they have been prepared.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the increased imports from the United States of America during the month of September and the increased balance of trade against this country; and if he will examine the nature of the imports and see whether much of them could be done without or procured from some other source, and consider whether this country is prepared to make sacrifices and suffer inconveniences if the result would be to raise the value of the £, and so cheapen the cost of living?

I have examined the figures of our foreign trade with care, but I do not find that the excess of import has been growing during the current year as my hon. Friend appears to suggest. On the contrary, it has been decreasing. The large volume of imports from the United States of America during September, to which the hon. Gentleman refers, mainly consists of the usual seasonal importation of wheat and flour Attention has been given to the problem of procuring necessary imports in the way most advantageous to our general trade position, but my hon. Friend will doubt- less see that a transference of purchases from one market to another, if not carried out by traders in their own interests, would involve a very onerous degree of Government control.

Could not the very large purchases the Government has made in the Colonies and other places be continued or increased instead of buying these things in America, so as to improve the exchange, which there is no doubt is against us?

Our purchases, as far as the Government is concerned, have been made in the most fruitful markets.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that French textile manufacturers are, and have for long been, receiving large quantities of German dyes, which enable them to compete with our textile manufacturers on favourable terms in foreign markets; and whether, in view of the importance to this country of its export trade in textiles, he can say whether we are receiving by way of reparation or otherwise an adequate proportion of the German output of dyestuffs?

I have no reason to suppose that the French consumers of dyestuffs have been placed in an unduly favourable position, as compared with British consumers, in respect of supplies from Germany, or to doubt the adequacy of the supplies being received from that country by way of reparation and ether-wise. If my hon. Friend has any concrete evidence to the contrary effect I should be glad to consider it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that German dyestuffs are imported into the United Kingdom, not only on direct registration, but also through countries whose frontiers are contiguous with those of Germany; and whether he can state, or estimate the total quantity of synthetic dyestuffs of German origin imported into the United Kingdom in the first nine months of the year?

I am aware that a certain proportion of the exports of German dyestuffs is through Belgium and Holland, and it may be assumed for practical purposes that the whole of the exports of dyestuffs consigned to the United Kingdom from these two countries is of German origin. The total quantity of synthetic dyestuffs and intermediate products imported into the United Kingdom from Holland, Belgium and Germany in the first nine months of the year was 2,986 tons. A small proportion of the dyestuffs consigned from Switzerland to this country is also probably of German origin, but it is not possible to form any reliable estimate of the amount. Of the amount referred to, 877 tons is in respect of reparation supplies from Germany.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say, in view of the very large increase in the imports of German dyestuffs, what is the position of the subscribers to the British Dye Corporation who were induced to subscribe upon the condition that foreign dyestuffs would be prohibited?

That is a new question. The hon. Member had better put it down on the Paper.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total volume of imports of glass goods from foreign countries since the Armistice?

The total value of glass and manufactures thereof registered as imported into the United Kingdom during the period December, 1918, to October, 1920, inclusive, was £10,599,381. Included in this total is the value of the imports from British Posessions as well as of those from foreign countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total imports of glass goods from foreign countries during 1913?

The total value of glass and manufactures thereof registered as imported into the United Kingdom from foreign countries in the year 1913 was £3,448,983. The hon. Member will keep in mind that values are very different now from what they were in 1913.

Does that include the imports from the Colonies?

Only from foreign countries.

Why has the right hon. Gentleman made a distinction between this reply and the reply to the previous question?

Because a distinction was made in the question.

It was foreign countries in both cases.

I beg the hon. Member's pardon. I am not certain whether this reply differentiates in that respect or not.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give the glass imports into this country in the first half of the present year as compared with the two half-years of 1919?

The total values of glass and glassware registered as imported into the United Kingdom in the periods specified were as follow: —

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the increase in the import of glass is causing a great deal of unemployment in this country?

I am not aware of that.

Has the right hon. Gentleman made inquiries whether this glass can be made in this country?

Is it not a fact that at this moment more people are employed in glass making in this country than for many years, and is it not the policy of the Government to encourage some of these imports to give an overdue relief to the consumer?

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us that prices will decline as a result of these increased imports?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the rate of exchange at which the value of German imports this year, £17,000,000, is arrived at?

The value of imports is declared by the importers in terms of sterling, on importation.

Has not that figure some relation to the value in the country of origin?

Of course, it has some relation, because every figure has some relation to every other figure. It is the value at the time the consignment is made.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not take steps to check these values. Must not this figure of £17,000,000 be considerably higher?

I do not think so.

Is it not a fact that owing to the depreciated mark, the value of these goods is nearly ten times as great?

Not here.

I am afraid the hon. Member (Mr. Remer) does not quite realise what "value" means.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that natural monazite sand from India is supplied to German manufacturers as raw material for the manufacture of incandescent gas mantles and ultimately that such gas mantles are exported to this country, and that in consequence of the collapsed exchange it is impossible for British manufacturers to compete; that one British firm has discharged its workpeople and is confining its activities to the sale of German-made mantles; and what course he proposes to take in the matter?

I have no information as to the extent to which German manufacturers are at present obtaining supplies of natural monazite sand from India, but I am having inquiries made and will inform my hon. Friend of the result. The whole question of collapsed exchanges, which is one of very great difficulty, is receiving the earnest attention of His Majesty's Government. I shall be glad to consider any detailed information which my hon. Friend can supply as to the particular firm mentioned in the question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the 5 per cent, interest charged to British subjects on their trade debts to Germany is paid to the German creditors; and if German debtors to British traders also pay 5 per cent, interest on their debts?

The interest charged to British debtors is credited to the German Clearing Office, but is retained by the British Clearing Office, and forms part of the fund available to meet the claims of British creditors. The answer to the latter part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Lord Privy Seal when the Debate on the Turkish Peace Treaty will be taken?

I cannot name a definite date, but we expect to take it during the present Session.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the extreme urgency of ratification?

We all realise its importance, but my hon. Friend knows how pressed for time the House has been.

Is it not important that ratification should take place in order that the War may be brought to an end?

That is only theoretically true. The War will not in effect be brought to an end by the ratification.

asked the Prime Minister what is the estimated value of commercial and naval ships and airships which were to be handed over to the Allies under the Treaty of Versailles which have been wilfully and maliciously destroyed by the Germans; what was the estimated share of Great Britain in the property destroyed; and what additional reparation has been secured in lieu of the property thus wilfully destroyed?

There has been no destruction of naval ships since the Treaty of Versailles. With regard to airships destroyed, their value cannot be accurately estimated until the plans have been surrendered, but the airships will either be replaced, or compensation exacted in some other form.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can state when he will carry out his undertaking to publish all agreements, protocols, etc., relating to the execution of the Treaty of Versailles?

The undertaking given by the Prime Minister in the House on 27th July was conditional upon our obtaining the consent of the several Allied Governments to such publication. Negotiations for this purpose are proceeding.

Can the hon. Gentleman say the result of the negotiations?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will put down another question

asked the Prime Minister whether he is able to inform the House as to the names of the Sovereign States which have joined the League of Nations, together with the respective amounts so far subscribed by each for the purpose of supporting the necessary machinery?

During 1910–1920 His Majesty's Government have paid the sum of £23,000, and during the current financial year (1920–1921) £21,948 12s.

These two sums together constitute the proportional share of His Majesty's Government under the present distribution among members of the League of the total budget of the League up to 31st December, 1920.

I regret that I am not in a position to state the amounts actually subscribed by other members of the League, but I will make inquiries of the Secretariat.

The list of the States which have joined the League of Nations is a long one, and, with the permission of the House, I shall publish it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Prime Minister what was the substance of the Report on the question of the expanses of the temporary commissions established by the Council of the League of Nations which was presented by M. da Cunha to the Council at the meeting just held at Brussels?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given on the 4th inst. by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council to the hon. Member for Edinburgh East.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is the intention of His Majesty's" Government to instruct the British delegates to the forthcoming meeting of the assembly of the League of Nations to propose that the right to-determine the terms of the mandates reposes in the members of the League; that the terms of the draft mandates be published before being finally approved; and that the approval of the members of the League be obtained by submitting the draft mandates to the, assembly of the League?

The answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the negative. His Majesty's Government think the matter should be dealt with in accordance with the terms of the Covenant.

May I ask whether the collective wisdom of the Governments of the Great Powers will have to be submitted to the judgment of these gentlemen at Geneva? Can they alter, amend and reject a mandate?

The Great Powers are represented, of course, on the Council of the League, and these mandates have to be submitted to the Council of the League. It will require the unanimous consent of the Council of the League to reject them.

Can the representatives of the great Governments be outvoted by the representatives of the small Governments, and who can ensure that these gentlemen at Geneva will be endowed with sufficient grace, wisdom and understanding?

Nothing can be done except by a unanimous decision of the Council. That means that nothing can be done without the consent of the Powers concerned.

Is it not definitely laid down by the Treaty of Versailles that the degree of authority and control to be exercised by any mandatory in a mandatory area is a matter for the League of Nations, Council or Assembly, to decide?

Yes, subject to the conditions which I have already indicated.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government would consent, in respect to reprisals in Ireland, to an inquiry limited to the question whether the policemen and soldiers who have committed acts of violence in reprisal for crime in Ireland have acted in any degree under the authority of superiors and, if so, under whose authority they have acted?

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that, despite repeated denials on the part of His Majesty's Government, many newspapers persist in alleging that outrages in Ireland are part of the definite and deliberate policy of that Government; and whether such newspapers will be prosecuted forthwith for spreading a false report likely to cause disaffection?

I cannot add anything to previous answers on this subject.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that accusations have been freely made, and very widely believed, that Members of the Government and the Commander of the Forces in Ireland have given authorisation for acts of violence which no one can defend, and is it not very desirable, to clear that up, that there should be some form of national inquiry?

Those are the very criticisms which have been discussed in the House a very short time ago. I never heard a topic so frequently discussed in so short a period.

Why does the right hon. Gentleman refuse to prosecute newspapers in this country for sedition when he prosecutes them in Ireland?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the questions and answers to which he has referred are in the fullest conflict on points of fact, and will the right hon. Gentleman make all inquiry, so that the truth may be reached?

I do not know what my right hon. Friend means, except that the Sinn Fein story does not quite coincide with the reports which we get from the Royal Irish Constabulary.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a number of leading reviews and newspapers in England have deliberately declared that the Government is responsible for the reprisals, and in view of the universal indignation expressed by every paper of every party yesterday, will he appoint some impartial committee of inquiry, even an English committee, to inquire into the matter?

I do not accept my hon. Friend's statement. Certain papers criticise the Government, as newspapers always criticise a Government, but there is a vast difference between that and saying there is universal indignation. My own impression is that the country is perfectly satisfied that we are breaking up this conspiracy.

Will the right hon. Gentleman not be influenced by the fact that, notwithstanding frequent Debates in this House, within the last three days there have been fresh outbreaks in Ireland of the kind referred to—

As a result of the Debates.

and that these outbreaks have been coupled with definite statements by persons of high authority in the Press that they are linked up with official sanction? Does the right hon. Gentleman not consider the repetition of these charges is sufficient ground for altering his present decision that there should be no inquiry?

I understand that the statement referred to by my right hon. Friend was denied by the office in command of that particular battalion. We accept his statement, and my right hon. Friend does not. I do not see how that is going to be cleared up by any further inquiry or discussion. Under present conditions, I am firmly convinced, from inquiries made, that the men who are suffering in Ireland are the men engaged in a murderous conspiracy.

And women too.

The hon. and gallant Gentleman knows perfectly well that that was a most unfortunate accident, and no one, no decent person, would suggest that it was deliberate. That is one of the unfortunate incidents that always happen in war. [HON. MEMBERS: "In war!"] It is war on their side. It is a rebellion. It happens in every conflict of that kind that innocent people, certainly without any intention on the part of anyone, are hit. That is a totally different matter.

The right hon. Gentleman says that these reprisals are only on people engaged in this conspiracy. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware—he has referred to Debates that have taken place in this House—that the military broke into my office in Dublin, smashed the premises, and destroyed over 1,000 ex-soldiers' letters with which I was dealing in connection with their grievances; and does be assert that I am engaged in this criminal conspiracy?

I am perfectly certain that my hon. Friend is not only not engaged in it, but that there is no one who regrets it more than he does. I am perfectly convinced of that. I should be the last to make that statement. If the hon. Gentleman has facts of that kind, I shall certainly inquire into them.

I am much obliged to the right hon. Gentleman. If I bring before him cases of deliberate and even infamous attacks on innocent people, many of whom have no more to do with Sinn Fein than he has, will he inquire into all these cases, or will he appoint a Committee to inquire if he has not the time himself?

As far as the Committee is concerned, the Government have expressed their opinion that, whilst this operation is going on we cannot hamper the authorities there in putting down conspiracy, which, I am perfectly convinced, the people of Ireland are just as anxious to suppress as we, are, except for the intimidation which is reigning there. With regard to inquiry, if my hon. Friend gives me any particulars, he knows perfectly well that I will inquire, into them.

rose—

There are many questions on the Paper still to be asked.

(by Private Notice) asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he would give details of the reprisals carried on in different parts of Ireland during the last three or four days; whether his attention has been called to the following description of Granard by Mr. Hugh Martin, the correspondent of the "Daily News":

"I found the town desolate, half deserted, and largely in ruins. Some of the ruins were still smoking. Eight of the largest places of business, together with the Town Hall, had vanished, leaving no trace but piles of rubbish. Six other buildings were badly damaged… Granard had been coolly, scientifically, methodically gutted by men who from first to last remained under some sort of discipline—"

whether it is true that, for three or four days all business houses and factories, including bakeries, in Tralee, have been closed by the authority of the police; whether many of the poor were thereby placed in serious distress, and whether the trade of the town for the time being was destroyed; how far this ban by the police on the town has been raised; and by whose authority did the police thus hold up the trade and the food of a whole community; how many people have been killed or wounded during the week-end; how many people arrested; and whether there has been another woman victim?

I hope the right hon. Gentleman received notice of these questions by the first post this morning.

I got this series of questions at a quarter to one today, and I have spent the interval doing my best to get adequate answers.

Did not the right hon. Gentleman receive the letter, which I certainly wrote last night, by the first post today, on his arrival at the office?

I got a letter in general terms stating that my hon. Friend was going to ask a private notice question dealing with Tralee and Granard. There are several other questions. At any rate, I am going to do my best to answer them. I regret to say I cannot answer the first question as it is too indefinite. I have read Mr. Hugh Martin's description of the damage done in Granard early on Thursday last following the assassination of Captain Kelliher, a district inspector in Granard, and Sergeant Cooney of the Royal Irish Constabulary, at Ballinalee, which is near Granard. The business premises in Tralee were closed for some days following a number of assassinations of police on Sunday last, but not by order of the police. I understand shops are now open and business is resuming its normal course.

So far as official information to hand goes, there were no policemen murdered during the week-end, but five were wounded in Derry on Saturday night. One soldier was murdered at Youghal on Friday night last. I have no information of any soldier being wounded. One civilian was killed in Cork and two were wounded in other parts of Ireland. I cannot say the number of arrests during the weekend, but there have been, I believe, a considerable number. No official information as to the killing of any woman is to hand. I profoundly regret the newspaper account turns out to be true. There was a fight between a mixed force of police and military and Sinn Feiners at Ardfert and Causeway, near Tralee, on Friday night last, and two Sinn Feiners were arrested. One had a loaded German pistol in his possession. The police report that they estimate six of the attacking Sinn Feiners were killed.

The right hon. Gentleman may not have heard, or have misunderstood the question, but I understand he makes no comment, either in denial or affirmation, on the account of the state of Granard in the report of Mr. Hugh Martin, and in regard to the second question he denies that shops and places of business in Tralee were closed by order of the police. He does not deny they were closed, and I would like to know on whose orders?

With reference to Granard, I am awaiting a report. In reference to Tralee, I myself have wired, "As the shops were closed, admittedly, on whose authority were they closed?" I am awaiting a reply to that wire.

Seeing that this havoc and this destruction were carried on last Thursday in Granard, why has the right hon. Gentleman not had a report before now?

This destruction occurred early on Thursday morning last in Granard, following the assassination of two officers of the Royal Irish Constabulary, and the whole of the constabulary and the military in the vicinity have been scouring the country ever since. I have wired for a full report on this matter, and it is on the way to me now.

May I ask why, when a whole town is destroyed and great destruction of property takes place, four days elapse before the right hon, Gentleman is acquainted with the facts?

On the first point, there is no case of a whole town being destroyed. Secondly, one gets telegraphic reports, which are naturally very short and incomplete, and a full report can only be drawn up by an officer who has the time and the information at his disposal, and it cannot be done at the same time that he is chasing assassins.

Will the right hon. Gentleman lay on the Table the reports in the possession of the Irish Office in relation to these matters, and also the finding of the Military Courts of Inquiry either as to the deaths of persons or acts of violence?

I must have notice of a series of questions like that. It is against the rule governing reports of disciplinary forces to Ministerial heads, that they should be laid on the Table of the House.

I give notice that I will repeat these questions tomorrow, when I hope the right hon. Gentleman will be in a position to give full information.

(by Private Notice) asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the statement of the Central News correspondent in Tralee, that his house was visited during his absence on Saturday by the police, who left a warning that he would be put up against the wall and shot if he transmitted Press messages without first submitting them to the police; whether the same action as is now being taken against the "Freeman's Journal" will be instituted against the representatives of English, French, American and other newspapers that have sent accounts to the world of the events in Ireland; whether in the case of the prosecution of the "Freeman's Journal" the trial will take place in the presence of representatives of the Press?

I also got this question at a quarter to one. I have asked for a Report as to the allegation made by the Central News correspondent at Tralee. I repeat what I have already said in this House, that, so far as the Irish Government is concerned, it does not, and has never, interfered with the journalists of any country following out their duties, but will do all it can to assist them. As to the other question, I have no control over the English. French, American and other newspapers, except the Irish. The answer to the last part is in the affirmative.

When a number of most reputable English journalists make statements that the police have intimidated and threatened responsible pressmen of this country, and when that statement is only denied by those largely responsible for these threats, will not some independent inquiry be made, and the public allowed an opportunity itself of forming a judgment as to who is really telling the truth in the matter?

I do not see the case for an inquiry. I am happy to say that, in the meantime, all the pressmen are carrying on with great diligence.

Is the right hon. Gentleman serious in the reply he gave to the question of my hon. Friend, namely, that a newspaper is to have its case heard in secrecy by the military authority, without any opportunity being given to it and the world of knowing the charges, the evidence, and the sentence; and, if that be so, does he still persist in the statement that Ireland is the freest country for journalists in the world?

Yes, I still persist in that statement, and the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for the Falls Division (Mr. Devlin) is in the affirmative, namely, that the prosecution of the "Freemen's Journal" will take place, in public, in the presence of the representatives of the Press of the world.

May I ask the Prime Minister whether his account of the state of affairs in Ireland is exactly similar to that made in the German Reichstag during the War?

Were you there?