§ 45. Colonel CHALONERasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the allegations as to an unauthorised plot to overawe Ulster by an armed occupation, he will take steps to secure a judicial inquiry into the whole matter?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs I have already stated, I see no grounds for such an inquiry.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIn view of the very circumstantial particulars given by men in high positions—[HON. MEMBERS: "Who are they?"]—I hope the right hon. Gentleman will reconsider his decision, and, in order to enable him to do so, I shall put to him a similar question to-morrow.
§ Mr. JAMES HOGGEHas the Prime Minister's attention been called to the fact that there are sworn testimonies of officers in the Army, Navy, and Irish Constabulary existing with regard to facts which are sufficient to arraign the right hon. Gentleman for treason—[HON. MEMBERS: "Which right hon. Gentleman?"]—and, if so, will he extend this judicial inquiry to these gentlemen, and, if necessary, take the proper disciplinary measures?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI know nothing of it. [HON. MEMBERS: "You do not want to!"]
§ 49. Mr. BUTCHERasked the Prime Minister whether the seven generals, or any of them, to whom General Sir A. Paget, on 20th March, made a communication in pursuance of instructions received by him at the War Office on I8th and 19th March, took memoranda or notes in writing of such communication; whether they, or any of them, in communicating to their subordinate officers the instructions received from General Paget, relied entirely on memory, or whether they, or any of them, made use of any such memoranda or notes, or read aloud to such officers any written document; whether any such memoranda, notes, or written documents, or copies of them, are still in existence; and, if so, whether he will lay them upon the Table of the House?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am informed that Sir Arthur Paget gave orders that no notes were to be taken at the meeting. If any notes or memoranda were, therefore, made by any officer, they were for his private and personal use.
§ Mr. BUTCHERWill the right hon. Gentleman inquire whether any such note or Memorandum was taken, and, if so, will he lay it on the Table?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, Sir.
§ Mr. SANDYSWhy were the original instructions given at the War Office to Sir Arthur Paget verbal and not in writing?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat does not arise out of this question at all.
§ Mr. CROFTWere instructions given that verbal orders were to be conveyed verbally to the other officers?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNot so far as I know.
§ Mr. HOGGEWill my right hon. Friend inquire among Members of the Opposition for a copy of this Memorandum?
Sir G. PARKERWas Sir Arthur Paget instructed to instruct the officers not to take notes of his verbal instructions?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, he was not.
§ 51. Mr. WORTHINGTON EVANSasked whether the document containing the two peccant paragraphs was given to General Gough for the purpose of being repeated by him in addressing the officers and men under his command; and whether the substance of that document was repeated by General Gough to the officers under his command?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs regards the first part of the question, that was the intention of my right hon. Friend. As to the second part, I have no information.
§ Viscount HELMSLEYWas that also the intention of Lord Morley when he said he was expressing the opinion of the Cabinet?
§ 52. Mr. WORTHINGTON EVANSasked the Prime Minister whether he has yet ascertained, and whether he will state, the nature of the questions addressed to the commanding officer of the Infantry regiments at the Curragh on the 20th and 21st March, and by them addressed to their officers?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe nature of the questions which were authorised by Sir Arthur Paget to be addressed to the commanding officers of Infantry regiments at the Curragh by their superior officers has already been indicated in the account given to the House on 1st April of what Sir Arthur Paget stated to his general officers commanding divisions and brigades.
§ Mr. WORTHINGTON EVANSIs there any written record anywhere of these questions?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNot so far as I am aware.
§ Mr. KELLAWAYCould not these questions be addressed to the spies in the service of the Opposition?
§ Viscount HELMSLEYDoes the right hon. Gentleman mean to say that there were no written instructions whatever given to Sir Arthur Paget?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, except those which have been published.
§ Major ARCHER-SHEEWere not written questions addressed to officers on detached duty in Ireland, and cannot copies of these written questions be obtained?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman give me notice of that question?
§ Colonel GREIGHas the attention of the Prime Minister been directed to No. 453 of the King's Regulations?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. and gallant Gentleman had better put that down. The right hon. Gentleman cannot carry all the King's Regulations in his head.
§ 53. Mr. GODFREY LOCKER-LAMPSONasked whether any War Office documents have during the recent Army crisis been published by the Government which, in the ordinary practice of the War Office, are regarded as confidential?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, Sir. In the exceptional circumstances it was considered right to publish documents which would in the ordinary way be treated as confidential.
§ Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONCan the right hon. Gentleman publish the reports that the Government say they received, that certain Government stores would probably be seized in Ireland?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI know nothing of that.
§ Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONIs it not the fact that in the Government White Paper it is stated that it was apprehended that certain stores were going to be seized? Will the right hon. Gentleman not publish the reports?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, certainly not.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEWill the right hon. Gentleman publish the telegrams that passed between the First Lord of the Admiralty and the Commander of the 4th Hussars?
§ 54. Mr. BUTCHERasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the numerous documents which have come to light since the issue of the White Paper on 25th March, he will, for the convenience of Members of this House and of the public, issue a revised edition of such White Paper which will contain copies of all the material documents relative to the recent movements and proposed movements of Cavalry, Infantry, Artillery, and other troops into Ulster, and of battleships, destroyers, and other vessels of war to Lamlash and other places near the shores of Ulster, and relative also to the resignations, dismissals, and reinstatements of generals and other officers, and to the resignations or proposed resignations of Cabinet Ministers and members of the Army Council; and whether he will give directions that such revised edition will include, amongst other documents, the following documents, namely, telegram from General Paget to Secretary for War, dated 17th March, disclosed 16th April; letter from General Paget to Secretary for War, dated 17th March, disclosed 2nd April; two telegrams from General Paget to General Friend, dated 19th March, disclosed 16th April; telegram from the Admiralty to Vice-Admiral Commanding" the Third Battle Squadron, dated 19th March, disclosed 25th March; telegram from the Admiralty to the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleets, dated 20th March, disclosed 25th March; telegram from the Secretary for War to General Paget, dated 20th March, disclosed 2nd April; three 582 telegrams from General Paget to the Secretary for War, dated 21st March, disclosed 2nd April; and telegram from the Secretary for War to General Paget, dated 21st March, disclosed 2nd April?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI will certainly issue a revised version of the White Paper containing all the documents which have been published; and, if there are any other documents which can properly be made public, they will be added.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEWill the Paper to which I have recently called attention be published?
§ 55. Mr. BUTCHERasked the Prime Minister the date of the appointment of the small Committee of the Cabinet, the existence of which was disclosed by the Attorney-General in his speech at Blackburn on 28th March; whether the members of such Committee included the Secretary of State for War, the First Lord of the Admiralty, the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, the Secretary of State for India, and the Attorney-General; whether the only matter to be considered by that Committee was the protection of military stores in Armagh, Omagh, and Carrickfergus; if so, what was the reason of the presence on that Committee of the First Lord of the Admiralty, the Secretary of State for India, and the Attorney-General; whether the matters to be considered by that Committee included the preparations for, and the carrying out of, operations by the military and naval forces of the Crown in Ulster; and whether minutes of the meeting of that Committee were kept and submitted to him?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt has never been the practice in the past to disclose the proceedings or the reasons for the constitution of a Cabinet Committee. I do not propose to make any alteration in past procedure.
§ Mr. BUTCHERWill the right hon. Gentleman give us the names of that Committee?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThey are here in the question.
§ Mr. BUTCHERThat is correct, is it?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes.
§ Mr. BUTCHERWere the proceedings of that Committee communicated to the right hon. Gentleman?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI decline to answer any such question.
56. Major HOPEasked whether all officers at out-stations or on detachment in Ireland were given the option of resigning and being dismissed if they were not prepared to undertake active operations in Ulster; and whether any of these officers received any written communication on the subject, or with regard to being allowed to disappear if domiciled in Ulster?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs far as can be ascertained, the reply is in the negative.
§ Mr. CASSELWill the right hon. Gentleman undertake to say that no written questions were addressed to officers of the Southern Command in Ireland?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have given my answer. So far as can be ascertained, so I am informed, the reply is in the negative.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have.
Major HOPEMay I take it that if such communications were received by officers they were a hoax and a forgery?
§ 57. Mr. DOUGLAS HALLasked whether, under the operation of the Government of Ireland Bill, Imperial troops that may be stationed in Ireland will be liable to be called upon to assist the Irish Executive in maintaining order; and, if so, whether steps will be taken to ensure that Imperial troops shall not be asked to discharge duties repulsive to their consciences as loyal subjects of the King?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThis is a hypothetical question, and I do not feel called upon to reply to it.
58. Mr. F. HALL (Dulwich)asked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the speech made by Major-General Sir Francis Lloyd at the annual regimental supper of the Honourable Artillery Company on 2nd April with regard to the recent Army crisis, and if the Army Council has considered it necessary to take any action in view of the statement by Sir Francis Lloyd that whatever the Army had done had emanated from the highest possible feelings of conscience?
§ The PRIME MINISTERMy attention has not been called to the speech otherwise than by the hon. Member's question, but as far as I can see there can be nothing to object to in the statement quoted.