§ 33. Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSONasked whether His Majesty's Government have any intention of taking advantage of the right to use the forces of the Crown to uphold law and order and to support the civil power in order to crush opposition to the principle and policy of the Government of Ireland Bill?
§ 45. Mr. JAMES HOPEasked whether His Majesty's Government have any intention of using the forces of the Crown in Ireland or elsewhere to crush political opposition to the policy or principles of the Government of Ireland Bill?
§ Mr. McKENNAI will answer this question and No. 45 together. The policy of the Government with regard to this matter was clearly stated last night by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and I have nothing to add to his statement.
§ Mr. JAMES HOPEWas the Lord Chancellor wrong when he answered this question on behalf of the Government in the negative?
§ Mr. McKENNAIs that question in order, Mr. Speaker?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is a matter on which we can only form our own judgment.
§ 46. Lord ROBERT CECILasked the Home Secretary what were the questions which the general officer commanding in Ireland put to officers under his command, and which are referred to in the third paragraph of the Memorandum of the Army Council dated 23rd March, 1914?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe Prime Minister has seen the general officer commanding in Ireland, who informed him that, when he summoned the general officers commanding divisions and brigades under his command, the only question put or intended to be put by him to them. was whether they were ready to put their duty before all other considerations? It was not his intention that this or any such question should be put by the general officers to their subordinate officers. He informed the general officers of the permission given by the Secretary of State to all officers whose homes were in Ulster to withdraw temporarily from their regiments in the event of operations becoming necessary in Ulster, and he requested the general officers to find out at once the number of officers who would withdraw on this ground. He was asked whether any officers who could not claim this exemption would be allowed to resign, and he replied that the result of any refusal to do their duty could only be dismissal.
§ Mr. HARRY LAWSONMay I ask whether it would not be convenient that the actual words, or a summary of what was said by the general officer, were laid on the Table of the House?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have given, so far as possible, the actual words of Sir Arthur Paget.
§ Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSONMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, as a matter of fact, this question was put to subordinate officers by any divisional officer?
§ Mr. McKENNAI should require to have notice of that.
§ Mr. JAMES HOPEMay I ask whether the general officer stated to his subordinates that non-commissioned officers and men domiciled in Ulster would have the same chance of not taking part in the operations as the officers?
§ Mr. McKENNAI will put that question to Sir Arthur Paget, but I cannot answer now.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether there is any 1178 note or memorandum in the possession of Sir Arthur Paget of these questions?
§ Mr. McKENNAI understand that there is no note. The issue was so exceedingly simple that Sir Arthur Paget did not think it was necessary to have a note.
§ Mr. HARRY LAWSONDid not his military secretary take a note?
§ Mr. McKENNANo, I believe not.
§ Mr. WORTHINGTON EVANSMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will ascertain whether the commanding officers who repeated these questions to the company officers made any note?
§ Mr. McKENNAI will consider the question.
§ Colonel YATEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether we are to understand from this communication from Sir Arthur Paget that the Divisional and Brigade Commanders under him did not communicate his exact words to the officers serving under them?
§ Mr. McKENNAAs I have said, I have not any information as to the questions put by the brigadiers to their subordinate officers, and consequently I am quite unable to say whether they added to, or subtracted from, the statement made by Sir Arthur Paget.