HC Deb 20 April 1915 vol 71 cc151-2
2. Sir J. D. REES

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any further legal proceedings will be taken at the instance of His Majesty's Government against persons charged with offences upon the Report of Sir R. Casement dealing with the Putumayo atrocities?

Sir E. GREY

I cannot deal with this question under present circumstances.

Mr. JAMES HOPE

Is Sir Roger Casement available as a witness, if necessary?

Sir J. D. REES

Is Sir Roger Casement any longer regarded as a person upon whose authority the Government may properly act?

Mr. KING

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers will he not say whether these charges were not fully gone into by a Select Committee of the House of Commons and generally accepted in their report?

Sir E. GREY

Whatever the report of the Select Committee is—I have not referred to it recently—it is before the House and can be ascertained. I cannot see that whatever Sir Roger Casement may have done subsequently invalidates their findings.