HC Deb 24 August 1893 vol 16 cc965-8
MR. KEIR HARDIE

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the statement that the officers in charge of the troops in South Wales have met in consultation with the Emergency Committee of the mine-owners as to the most effective method of disposing of their forces; whether the officers in command of the soldiers in South Wales are authorised to consult with the Emergeuc3r Committee of the mine-owners, and not with the Magistrates; whether the Secretary of the Mine-owners' Emergency Committee is allowed to accompany the General in command while disposing of his forces; whether he is aware that the General in command of the troops received an address of thanks from the mine-owners of South Wales, and stated, in reply thereto, that he would send more soldiers into the district, if necessary; and whether it was in order for the General to receive such resolution of thanks, and make such promise in reply?

*MR. CAMPBELL-BAXNERMAN

The officers in command of troops are only authorised to confer with the Magistrates and local Civil Authorities, and I have no reason to believe that there has been any departure from the usual practice; but it is natural that an officer should obtain all information, from whatever source, which would help him in discharging his duty. Before the General arrived the disposition of the troops had been already arranged. In visiting the troops he was accompanied by the Chief Constable and by Major Williams, of the Monmouth Volunteer Artillery, a local Magistrate. Whether Major Williams is connected with the Mine-owners' Committee I am not aware. With regard to paragraph 4, I may quote the words of the General, who says— I may have stated in the course of a private conversation with one or two gentlemen who came to see me at my hotel to explain the situation, and who I understood were local Magistrates, that I was ready to comply with legal requisitions for more troops, if, after my inspection, I found they were required to maintain order. We have no Report as to any address or resolution of thanks.

MR. KEIR HARDIE

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any disturbance occurred in South Wales which the local police were unable to cope with; and whether the services of the troops have been required since their introduction into South Wales; and, if not, whether he will order their immediate withdrawal, or cause an independent inquiry to be made as to the justification for their continued presence there?

MR. A. WILLIAMS (Glamorgan, S.)

I beg, at the same time, to ask whether all cause for alarm has now completely disappeared; and whether the Home Secretary will withdraw the troops which have been despatched to the colliery districts of South Wales?

MR. ASQUITH

The duty of the Local Authorities is not merely to suppress but to prevent disturbance, and the despatch of troops was not sanctioned until the authorities had endeavoured and failed to supplement the local police by drafts from other police forces. There has been, I am glad to say, no collision between the soldiers and any part of the population. I am satisfied that the troops have been handled with great discretion, and that they have rendered valuable service in the protection of person and property. No one is more anxious than I am to see the troops withdrawn, and I have no reason to doubt that the Local Authorities share my wish. I am in constant communication with the Chief Constables of Monmouthshire and Glamorganshire, and I am glad to say that the intelligence received during the last two days has been more reassuring, but, though both districts are quieting down, I cannot yet say that all cause for apprehension has been removed. There will be no avoidable delay in withdrawing the military force as soon as the necessity which led to its introduction has ceased.

MR. A. WILLIAMS

Will the right hon. Gentleman put himself in communication with the representatives of the men, among whom is my hon. Friend the Member for Rhondda (Mr. W. Abraham), so as to be able to ascertain whether, in their opinion, there was any continued necessity for the troops remaining in the district?

MR. ASQUITH

It is obvious I could not do that. If I were to put myself in communication with the men I should have to put myself in communication with both parties, and also with the employers. The only safe course to adopt is the course which has been adopted in this case as in all others—namely, for the Central Authorities to put themselves in communication with the Local Authorities, including the Chief Constable.

MR. A. WILLIAMS

I am afraid I have not made myself clearly understood. In instructing the Chief Constable, who I understand is responsible for the military being in the county, and who is evidently in communication with the Coalowners' Association, will the right hon. Gentleman ask him to take care also to obtain the opinion of the representatives of the men?

MR. ASQUITH

I have no reason to doubt, from the communications which have reached me, that the Chief Constables of both these counties have obtained their information from all available sources, and that they do not go to one side more than the other.

MR. A. WILLIAMS

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at the meeting on Wednesday of the Sliding Scale Committee, of which my hon. Friend (Mr. Abrahams) is a member, a resolution was passed in which they said they informed the employers on Saturday that they regretted that the employers had thought it necessary to resort to extreme measures. Does not my hon. Friend represent the men who are not on strike?

MR. ASQUITH

I am not aware of that resolution; I have no doubt the hon. Gentleman does represent these men; but, as I have already stated, the troops were sent not upon the requisition of the employers; and so far as I am concerned, I have no more to do with the wishes of the employers than with the wishes of the men.

MR. BURNIE (Swansea)

May I ask whether 100 cavalry have been sent to Swansea, notwithstanding the objection of the Mayor?

MR. ASQUITH

I saw a statement that a certain number of cavalry were being sent to Swansea, but I understand it was on the requisition of the local Magistrates.

MR. A. WILLIAMS

But is the right hon. Gentleman aware that The Pall Mall Gazette states that the Mayor of Swansea has expressed a strong feeling of indignation that the military were sent to Swansea, and that they were sent without his knowledge, and that he considered he could maintain public peace and order without their assistance?

MR. ASQUITH

I have not seen the statement referred to; but I must point out that the Mayor, whose opinion is entitled to the greatest weight, is only one of the borough Magistrates, and, as I understand, the requisition proceeded from the Borough Bench as a whole.

MR. A. WILLIAMS

Is it not the fact that, under the Riot Act, the Mayor of the borough is specifically mentioned as the person responsible for calling out the military?

MR. ASQUITH

That may be so.