§ 13. Mr. STEWARTasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many British I subjects were killed in the recent mutiny of troops at Singapore; whether Germans interned in the Colony were allowed to draw cheques on their bank accounts and, if so, whether any limit was put to the sums thus obtainable; whether some of the mutineers of the Indian regiment were discovered to be in possession of substantial sums of money, and whether there is any reason to believe that they had been bribed by German prisoners; how many of the German prisoners escaped and how many have been recaptured; whether one of the escaped prisoners had been previously proved guilty of sending wireless messages to the "Emden"; and, if so, will he give the name of this prisoner and the firm to which he belongs, and say whether this firm or any other German firm is still being allowed to carry on business in Singapore?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Harcourt)The number of British subjects killed in the recent riot at Singapore was thirty-five. I have no information as to the limitation of cheques drawn by German prisoners on their bank accounts, but there is no indication in the reports received that the mutineers had been provided with funds from any source. Seventeen German prisoners escaped, of whom six have been reported captured. I have no knowledge that any of the escaped prisoners had acted in the manner suggested by the hon. Member. German firms in Singapore have only been allowed to sell old stocks and collect debts under supervision, and prior to the riot all Germans had either been interned or deported.
§ Mr. STEWARTAre the regulations in connection with German prisoners under the Colonial Office or the War Office; is the right hon. Gentleman aware that money in English sovereigns was discovered on some of the mutineers—in one case amounting to £125—and is it not true that Mr. Diehn, representing a German firm, signalled to the "Emden," and afterwards escaped to a Dutch island?
§ Mr. HARCOURTThese questions cover a great quantity of new ground which is not covered by the question. If the hon. Member will put down another question I shall be very happy to give him all the information in my possession.
§ Mr. STEWARTI understood the right hon. Gentleman to say he was not aware that one of the escaped prisoners had communicated with the "Emden."
§ Mr. HARCOURTNo; I have no information at all. I have looked that up carefully. I think probably there has been a misunderstanding. There were three or four prisoners there who had been of the crew of the "Emden."