§ 6. Mr. KINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, both in the case of conscientious objectors and of Irish prisoners imprisoned without trial, so much sympathy is often evoked in the soldiers and warders guarding them in confinement that these soldiers and warders smuggle out letters to friends, and bring in letters or food to those suffering imprisonment; whether such smuggling of letters or food is against regulations; whether any soldiers have been punished in connection with such practices; if so, how many; and whether, in view of the wide sympathy shown to so many thousands of British subjects in prison who might be doing useful service, he will mitigate the Regulations now in force?
§ Mr. TENNANTI am not aware whether conscientious objectors or Irish prisoners evoke sympathy in the soldiers and warders guarding them. My hon. Friend will find complete information on the subject of the smuggling of letters in paragraph 151 of the "Rules for Detention Barracks and Military Prisons," which are published by Messrs. Harrison and Sons, St. Martin's Lane, W.C.; and I take this opportunity of pointing out to my hon. 1345 Friend in regard to his request that I will mitigate the Regulations now in force, that the "Rules for Detention Barracks and Military Prisons" are statutory and made by the Secretary of State for War under Section 133 of the Army Act.