64. Mr. CHANCELLORasked the Undersecretary of State for War whether he is aware that the objectors to inoculation in the 3/3rd Field Company of the 2nd London Division Royal Engineers, now at Hatfield Broad Oaks, were paraded on Saturday, 12th June, before the temporary major, who informed them that he had authority from the colonel of the Royal Engineers to state that inocuation was compulsory, and that they would all have to be done; whether the colonel had any authority for such a statement; and, if not, whether he will discourage attempts by Army officers thus to enforce compulsion on soldiers in violation both of their legal rights and the repeated declarations in Parliament of himself and of the Secretary of State for War?
§ Mr. TENNANTI have no information to confirm my hon. Friend's statement. If the facts are as stated, the officer commanding acted without authority in saying that inoculation against enteric fever is compulsory.
65. Mr. CHANCELLORasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether soldiers who object to inoculation are being frequently paraded for medical inspection, whilst inoculated soldiers are not so frequently inspected; whether on these occasions the men are lectured and some times threatened to induce them to violate their convictions; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. TENNANTI have no knowledge of that.
66. Mr. CHANCELLORasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether a handbill, dated 22nd January, is still being circulated amongst soldiers containing the statements that inoculation has nothing to do with vivisection, and with proper care it has never been known to do a man harm; whether he is aware that both these statements are untrue, the second one being disproved by numerous cases of destroyed health, and some cases of death following inoculation; whether this circular will now be withdrawn; and whether, in future circulars intended to compel soldiers to be voluntarily inoculated against their convictions and desires, care will be taken to avoid misleading statements?
§ Mr. TENNANTIf the circular to which my hon. Friend refers is that issued by the Research Defence Society, it had War Office sanction and authority, and no reason is seen for withdrawing such authority. Every case to which my hon. Friend, and those who sympathise with him in this matter have drawn attention, has been inquired into, and I am not aware of any case except one where death has been due to other than natural causes of one sort or another.
Mr. CHANCELLORIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the circular referred to in the answer is not the one to which I refer?
§ Mr. TENNANTPerhaps my hon. Friend will give me a copy of the circular to which he refers.
67. Mr. CHANCELLORasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Gunner Ernest John Gardner, No. 1761, who enlisted in the 2/6th London Field Artillery Brigade (Territorials) on 2nd October, 1914, and was in perfect health until 23rd December, was inoculated on that day, and within three hours fell ill; whether he is aware that for nearly six months, although 792 treated in several hospitals, he has continuously suffered from delirium, loss of memory, fever, neuritis, and weak heart; whether any cause of this illness other than inoculation is known; and seeing that on 8th June he was discharged from the Army, his discharge paper being marked conduct good, whether any and, if any, what compensation will be paid for the loss of health and capacity to earn a living due to his inoculation by the Army doctor?
§ Mr. TENNANTIf my hon. Friend wants me to obtain the facts of this case, I must ask him to postpone his question so that the allegations may be investigated. At present I have no information on the matter.