HC Deb 29 May 1916 vol 82 cc2380-1
Mr. E. HARVEY

(by Private Notice) asked the Under - Secretary for War whether sixteen conscientious objectors under detention at Richmond for refusing to obey military orders are ordered to France to-morrow, in spite of the recent Army Council Order, and whether he will take steps to prevent them being sent to France?

Mr. TENNANT

My hon. Friend only put this question into my hands as I came into the House. Therefore, I cannot give him what I may call a considered reply. I do not think I ought to say more than that I will investigate the case.

Mr. MORRELL

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is the policy of the War Office that men who are under detention for refusing to obey orders should be sent to France?

Mr. TENNANT

I should like to disabuse the minds of my hon. Friends in that quarter of the House of the suspicion that persons who are sent out to France are not treated properly. That really is not the case. On the contrary, as I have told the House more than once, these men have been doing very good work and very useful work in the Army, and it is very desirable that that should proceed.

Mr. HARVEY

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that these men are not men who are willing to go to France, of whom there are a considerable number at Richmond, but men who have persistently refused to obey military orders, and that their being sent to France will merely result in bigger penalties?

Mr. TENNANT

I will bear that in mind.

Mr. WHITEHOUSE

Has not an order been issued by the War Office, and published in the "Times" on Saturday, stating that conscientious objectors who are under sentence will be transferred to civil prisons in this country, and is not this action a contravention of that order?

Mr. TENNANT

I do not agree that it is a contravention of that order. If it were, it would not be done.