The other business before - the House was a motion by
Mt. Jack Jones, to adjourn the House on the question of- the Irish deportations. The facts of' the case were these; An Irish Republican association in this country has been' conspiring to overthrow the Irish Free State and. also to carry on a campaign of destruction here. On Monday one hundred and ten persons were arrested. and deported to Ireland, where they were interned by the Free State- authorities, who have agreed not to proceed further against them without the consent of the Biitiih Government. The legality of this proceeding_ was questioned by the Labour Party, but the Government had little difficulty in showing that their action was covered by Regulation 14e under the Restoration of Order in. Ireland Act. Nor had the Home Secretary.' an --difficulty- in showing, the necessity for the arrests. He read out several letters from and to the arrested linen, on such subjects as whether or not the grenades had arrived, and- if they should or should not be made of aluminium and filled with shrapnel, which left no room for doubt as to the urgency of his action. More difficult to meet was the point raised by Sir John Simon. Should not these men-have': been made to stand their trial in this country rather than: be deported to another jurisdiction without an opportunity of- saying a word in their own defence ? That is certainly our opinion. A trial on a charge of treason would have done much to educate opinion here. Publicity is one of the best cures for -Revolutionary Anarchy.
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