FATHER O'DONNELL'S CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17336, 6 December 1919, Page 11

FATHER O'DONNELL'S CASE.

QUESTIONS IN THE COMMONS. INQUIRY TO BE HELD. A. and N.Z. LONDON, Dec. 4. In the House of Commons to-day Mr. Joseph Devlin, Nationalist member for Falls, Belfast, asked Mr. H. W. Forster, Under-Secre-tary to the War Office, whether he would make a statement in regard to Father O'Donnell's trial. Mr. Forster said he was not in a position to make a statement at present, but would do so as soon as possible. Mr. Devlin asked Mr. Bonar Law whether, in view of the vital importance of the matter to the honour and dignity of the army, and in deference to the immensely indignant feeling of the Australian people, it was treating the House fairly for the Under-Secretary to give "such an answer. Mr. Bonar Law replied: I quite realise the seriousness of the matter, but it is impossible for the Government to answer until the matter in inquired into. Sir H. Dal/iel, Liberal member for Kircaldy Burghs, asked whether the House would have an opportunity of discussing the matter. Mr. Bonar Law paid that the House should await the report. The Government quite realised that the matter must be sifted to the bottom. Mr. J. MacVeagh, Nationalist member for South Down, asked whether the officers concerned had been suspended from duty. Mr. Bonar Law : We don't condemn people without trying them. Mr. Devlin asked for leave to move the adjournment, but the Speaker refused to accept the motion, and said that there must be an inquiry before the matter could be discussed.