NEWS OF THE WEEK.
AVERY serious debate arose in the Commons on Thursday on a circular, said to have been issued by the Police Inspector of Clare. The circular, the text, of which is given elsewhere, orders the police, when guarding Mr. Clifford Lloyd, to fire on the slightest suspicion, and promises them protection if they should accidentally kill an innocent man. Mr. Sexton brought this for- ward in a very violent speech, and Mr. Shaw stated that he had seen the circular three weeks ago. Mr. Forster replied that neither he nor the permanent officials-at-the Castle had seen the circular, and that he disapproved the last two 'paragraphs. He had little doubt that the Inspector had in his mind the con- spiracy which existed to assassinate Mr. -Lloyd, upon whose head a price had been put, and who -was in imminent risk of being shot by men who fired from behind a hedge. If those men thought they would be fired at first, they would be more careful about assassination. The Par- nellites grew furious at this speech, and Mr. Healy openly intimated that he did not believe in Mr. Forster's ignorance. He withdrew this imputation, in obedience to the Speaker; but Mr. Redmond- declitied Mr. Forster "neither an honest poli- tician, nor au honest man." The Speaker called on him to withdraw the words; which he did, but observed that the Rules of the House militated against the truth. " The Speaker thereupon named him, and by a majority of 207 to 12 he was suspended for the sitting—a ridiculous penalty, which any Member would encounter, if it made his seat the safer.
