§ 62. Mr. OUTHWAITEasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the statement of the late Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland that a contributory cause of the rebellion was the gun-running of the Ulster Volunteers and the preparation to set up a provisional government; and, in view of the fact that those responsible have not been prosecuted, will he take steps to secure the immediate release of all prisoners arrested in connection with the rebellion who are not charged with the commission of acts of violence?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I cannot give the undertaking asked for in the second part of the question, but I can assure my hon. Friend that the Government are taking all possible steps to secure that no innocent person should be detained a moment longer than, is necessary to establish his innocence.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEWill the persons against whom no charge has been preferred be now released?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWe are taking every possible step in that direction.
§ Mr. GINNELLCan the right hon. Gentleman say when the men against whom no charge has been preferred will be given an opportunity of proving their innocence?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThey are being released day by day.
§ Mr. FLAVINAre there not men who were arrested a month ago, against whom no charge has been made, who have not been put on their trial and whose friends are denied the right to see them? What action is going to be taken in regard to them?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThese cases are being dealt with as quickly as possible. The desire of the Government is as strong as that of anybody that no man should be detained a moment longer than is absolutely necessary.
§ Mr. SCANLANWith regard to the Sligo prisoners, will the right hon. Gentleman see the hon. Member for Black-pool, who knows the constituency?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am informed by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary that 150 cases are being investigated daily.
§ 65. Mr. DEVLINasked the Prime Minister whether he will order the immediate revision of the lists of Irish prisoners with a view to the release of those who had no connection with the disturbances in Dublin?
69. Mr. HAZLETONasked the Prime Minister whether he will order the immediate release of all deported prisoners from Ireland who are under the age of eighteen years and against whom no proceedings by trial are pending?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am afraid I cannot give the undertakings asked for in the question, but I can assure my hon. Friend that the authorities are, under the instructions of the Government, actively revising the list of the prisoners with a view to ensuring that no innocent persons should be unnecessarily detained.
§ Mr. DEVLINMay I ask whether the Irish Volunteers, who took no part in the disturbances, are included?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, Sir.
§ 70. Mr. LUNDONasked the Prime Minister whether printed forms on which release may be claimed have been issued only to those deported prisoners from Ireland who have stated that they had no connection whatever with the Irish Volunteer movement; whether he is aware that in various parts of Ireland large numbers of Irish Volunteers had no knowledge whatever that any rebellion was contemplated, and took no part whatever 2085 therein; and whether the printed forms will be supplied to prisoners in this position?
§ Mr. TENNANTForms have been issued to all prisoners who claim that their arrest was a mistake, and who state that they are not in any way connected with the rebellion or with the organisation which was responsible for it.
§ Mr. SCANLANWho decides whether these persons are properly deported or imprisoned? Is it General Maxwell?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe investigation is at present being carried on by the military authorities in Dublin.
Mr. HAZLETONWill these forms be issued to the Irish Volunteers, who had no connection with the rising, seeing that the organisation has only been declared illegal since the rebellion?
§ Mr. TENNANTYes, Sir, I will see that the forms are issued to them.