§ MR. M. DAVITT (Mayo, S.)On behalf of the hon. Member for East Mayo (Mr. Dillon), I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the Government have received any medical reports as to the effect of Dum-Dum bullets on men or animals in India?
MR. SWIFT MCNEILLAt the same time I will ask the noble Lord whether the specific quality of the Dum-Dum bullets supplied to the British troops to be used against the Afridis consists in crushing and pulverising the bone so as to defy all surgical skill employed in setting; in what respects are the Dum-Dum bullets less calculated than explosive bullets, to inflict incurable injury; and, what is the authority for the statement that the Dum-Dum bullets are consonant with international law or the usages of civilised warfare?
THE SECRETAEY OF STATE FOR INDIAAs Questions No. 45 and No. 72 relate to the same subject, I may perhaps be allowed to answer them together. According to the information supplied to me, the effects of this bullet are not more serious (indeed, I believe, they are less serious) than those of the old Snider bullet nor than those of the Martini-Henry bullet. But, on the other hand, as was clearly shown during the Chitral expedition, the Lee-Metford bullet frequently failed to attain the object with which, all missiles are discharged in war, namely, that of disabling the enemy with the least possible suffering. The Dum-Dum bullet fulfils this purpose, as did the bullets previously used by the British Army, and fulfils it in the same way. That the use of the Dum-Dum bullet is consonant with international law, as set forth in the terms of the St. Petersburg Convention of 1868, is perfectly clear, inasmuch as what the Convention forbids is the use of any explosive projectile, below a certain weight, "charged with fulminating or inflammable matter." I have received as yet no medical reports from India on the effects of the Dum-Dum 284 bullets in the recent engagements, but I have asked the Government of India to expedite this information.
MR. SWIFT MCNEILLThe noble Lord has promised what he has not performed. He said he would answer my Question, but has not done so.
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder! If the Question has not been fully answered the hon. Member can ask for further information.
MR. SWIFT MCNEILLI wish to know whether the specific quality of the Dum-Dum bullet supplied to British troops to be used against the Afridis consists in crushing and pulverising the bone so as to defy all surgical skill employed in setting. Secondly, in what respects are the Dum-Dum bullets loss calculated than explosive bullets to inflict incurable injury?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIAThere is no doubt that the so-called Dum-Dum bullets inflicts a more serious wound than a bullet from the Lee-Metford rifle, but not more so than the bullet previously in use. I believe anyone can convert the Lee-Metford bullet into a Dum-Dum bullet by simply flattening its head.
§ COLONEL SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)Has the noble Lord any information as to the use of the Dum-Dum bullets by the Afridis against British troops?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIAI have already answered that Question. It is assumed that what ammunition they got they took from a British transport or convoy.