§ 31. Mr. SNOWDENasked the President of the Local Government Board if he will give special instructions to the Newport (Mon.) Military Service Tribunal that they must hear and receive evidence in cases of claims on conscientious grounds, seeing that on 30th June this tribunal dismissed the claim of Mr. A. B. Moon, who had evidence from twenty-one ministers and six magistrates of the town as to the genuineness of his convictions, but the chairman refused to allow any letter to be read?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Long)I am informed that the tribunal offered Mr. Moon an adjournment to enable him to call any witnesses whom he might think would help him in his application; that this offer was twice repeated, but declined by Mr. Moon, who wished his application to be then heard; and that, after a lengthy hearing, the application was refused. I understand that Mr. Moon has appealed to the Appeal Tribunal.
§ 32. Mr. SNOWDENasked the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been called to the action of the chairman of the Heanor Local Tribunal, who is writing letters to the local Press denouncing conscientious objectors; and, 643 in view of the fact that instructions to the tribunal say that the members of the tribunals must maintain an unprejudiced and judicial mind so that applicants for exemption on the ground of conscientious objection may feel that their cases will be fairly considered, will he at once take action to have this chairman removed from his membership of the tribunal?
§ Mr. LONGI have not received any complaints as to the treatment of cases of conscientious objectors by this tribunal. I consider it advisable that a member of a tribunal should not engage in newspaper controversy on a matter which has or may come before the tribunal.
§ Mr. SNOWDENHas the right hon. Gentleman communicated that view to the chairman of the tribunal?
§ 34. Mr. SNOWDENasked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been directed to a resolution of the London Education Committee to suspend without pay the men in their service who have obtained exemption from military service; and, in view of the definite promise that the Military Service Act would not be used for industrial conscription, if he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. LONGI see no reason for intervention in this matter. In any case it is not one in regard to which I could exercise any control.
§ 35. Mr. WHITEHOUSEasked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the plan now adopted by many tribunals of putting a set of complicated questions to applicants claiming exemption on conscientious grounds, in some cases requiring answers to be written in their presence, he will endeavour to secure that uneducated men shall not be prejudiced in their claim by their inability to express themselves in writing?
§ Mr. LONGI have no reason to think that uneducated men will not be given reasonable opportunity of stating their case.
§ 102. Mr. SNOWDENasked the Secretary of State for War what action he is taking upon the conduct of Lieutenant-Colonel Hamilton, who, on Monday, 3rd 644 July, when formally committing a conscientious objector named Percy Larkman for trial by court-martial at Chelsea, addressed Mr. Larkman with the words, " You cur, you ought to be whipped round the streets!" and if this officer took any part in the actual court-martial on Mr. Larkman, at Chelsea, on 7th July?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Forster)It appears that Lieutenant-Colonel Hamilton did use words capable of bearing the construction stated in the question. He has been seen by the General Officer Commanding the London District on the matter and cautioned. He took no part in the court-martial on Mr. Larkman.
§ Mr. SNOWDENIs the War Office going to do nothing more to this man than caution him? Is it not regarded by the Army Orders as a very serious offence?
§ Mr. FORSTERIt has been dealt with by the General Officer Commanding the district.
§ Mr. SNOWDENYes, with a caution.
§ 68. Mr. SNOWDENasked what provision is made in the new scheme for dealing with conscientious objectors for the men who on logical conscientious grounds refuse to accept alternative service under the Military Service Act; and what steps do the Government intend to take to prevent men like Mr. Clifford Allen and Mr. Fenner Brockway being handed over to the military authorities, when tribunals have admitted them to be genuine conscientious objectors to both combatant and non-combatant service and to have proved this to the satisfaction of the tribunals?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)It will not be possible for the Government to take any other course with men who refuse to avail themselves of alternative service which is in no way connected with military operations except to hand them over to the military authorities.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that some tribunals are dealing with men as if alternative service were simply non-combatant service?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am not aware of that.
§ Mr. HOLTMay I ask how the right hon. Gentleman expects any man who has 645 a conscientious objection to military service to enter into a bargain as to the terms in which he would be immune from that service?
§ Sir E. CARSONIs a conscientious objector a man who takes full advantage of all that is done by others?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI should call such a person an unconscientious objector.