HC Deb 09 August 1916 vol 85 cc1027-30
19. Mr. SNOWDEN

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will have an inquiry made into the treatment of E. J. Cornwell and J. J. Cornwell, of 54, Spencer Street, Norwich, conscientious objectors, who were arrested on 2nd June, handed over to the military on 3rd June, sent to Falmer Camp on 5th June, attached to the 9th Royal West Surrey Regiment, and on 12th June sentenced to twenty-eight days' detention and sent to Lewes Gaol and, on this being found to be illegal, were brought back to Shoreham Camp, were sentenced by court-martial to twelve months' hard labour, commuted to 112 days on 30th June, and seven days later the Norwich Tribunal decided their cases and granted them exemption from combatant service; as these men were illegally arrested while their cases were undecided by the tribunal, what action he proposes to take against the military officials responsible for this illegality; and will he order the immediate release of these two men and the cancellation of their military sentences and give them adequate compensation for the treatment they have received?

Mr. FORSTER

Inquiries are being made into the circumstances in which these men were arrested. At present I am informed that their cases are before the Central Tribunal, in accordance with the arrangement outlined by the Prime Minister in his statement of the 29th June.

Mr. SNOWDEN

May I ask if any action has been taken in regard to the illegal conduct of the military in arresting these men?

Mr. FORSTER

I must ask for notice of that question.

20. Mr. SNOWDEN

asked why eight conscientious objectors named Wheeldon, Groome, Carrier, Clarke, Rogers, Hollingsworth, Sims, and Cook, who were sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour for refusing to obey military orders, and transferred to the civil prison at Derby, and their sentences reduced to fifty-six days, this sentence having expired on 26th July, were sent back to the Army and placed straight into the guardroom at Seaburn hutments, Roker, though they had committed no further military offence; and why these men were not treated under the new scheme end given the offer of work under the Home Office scheme?

Mr. FORSTER

I am glad to be able to inform the hon. Member that arrangements have now been completed whereby all conscientious objectors whose cases have not been reached by the Central Tribunal during the currency of their sentences are sent on furlough with permission to wear plain clothes. They are required to furnish their addresses and they will receive a communication in due course from the Central Tribunal in regard to the presentation of their case. Men in detention are being sent direct on furlough from the detention barracks, but it is not possible to make these arrangements in regard to civil prisons (owing to there being no military authorities there competent to carry out the furlough) and in consequence such men are being sent back to their unit for the sole purpose of their furlough being arranged and carried out. Inquiry will be made as to why these men were placed in the guardroom and they will be sent on furlough forthwith, if such procedure has not already been carried out. The hon. Member will doubtless realise that owing to the fact that these men were in a civil prison a certain amount of interdepartmental delay is bound to arise.

I am glad to be able to inform the hon. Member that in regard to men who have been undergoing sentences of detention steps were taken on the 29th July last to give effect to this procedure, and all conscientious objectors who have been released from detention are now on furlough with permission to wear plain clothes awaiting the review of their cases at the hands of the Central Tribunal. Instructions have been given that their furlough should be made out as from the "date on which furlough was given "until" they receive a notification from the War Office to rejoin "Such notification will not be sent unless their cases are rejected by the Central Tribunal, and if the tribunal upholds their appeal they will be forthwith transferred to Section W of the Army Reserve, under the conditions announced in the Prime Minister's statement of the 29th June. With regard to the latter part of the hon. Member's question, these cases have not been treated under the new scheme for the reason that the Central Tribunal have not yet reached their cases.

Mr. SNOWDEN

I am very much obliged to the hon. Gentleman, but may I ask him if he will make further inquiry into these particular cases to see why seven out the eight have been treated as stated in the answer, but the eighth man, Sims, has not been so treated? Can the hon. Gentleman inquire why this discrimination has been made?

Mr. FORSTER

Yes, Sir; I will make inquiries.

44. Mr. HOGGE

asked the Home Secretary whether conscientious objectors will be called upon to sign any documents before undertaking work under the direction of the Home Office Committee; if so, what safeguards are to be set up that the terms of such agreements are adhered to; and whether the Government will give an undertaking that conscientious objectors shall not be required to sign conditions that might be formulated later?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Herbert Samuel)

The persons referred to will be invited to sign a paper showing that they understand and accept the conditions on which they are released for employment on work of national importance under the civil authority. These conditions will, however, apply whether they sign the paper or not. If they fail to observe the conditions, they will return to prison if still under sentence, or, if not under sentence, they will be recalled to military service. So long as they observe the conditions they will be entirely free from military control.

65. Mr. SNOWDEN

asked the Home Secretary if the Home Office scheme for dealing with conscientious objectors referred to them by the Central Tribunal is now complete; if so, will he give particulars of the scheme; can he state how many cases have been received from the Central Tribunal; and if the men who have expressed their willingness to accept work under this scheme are now actually employed under it?

Mr. SAMUEL

Arrangements have now been completed by the Committee for the employment of some hundreds of men on the upkeep and repair of important public roads under the Road Board. The number of cases received from the Central Tribunal up to this morning is 110. Of these, fifty will be discharged on Monday next and sent to their place of employment, and it is hoped to discharge the remainder a day or two later.

Mr. SNOWDEN

Will the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration in formulating this scheme that some of these men might be very much better employed in the national interest in following the trades in which they are skilled?

Mr. SAMUEL

The Committee which is dealing with the matter are taking all these considerations into account.