§ 55. Mr. CRUMLEYasked the Prime Minister if his attention has been called to the fact that the Irish prisoners detained in the Wandsworth and other military detention barracks, and against whom no criminal charges have been made, are kept twenty-two hours out of 2389 the twenty-four in solitary confinement; and if he can see his way to direct that they be allowed to have six hours in the open air each day with liberty to speak to each other and to smoke if they desire to do so?
Mr. SAMUELThe Command have been directed to allow as much exercise as possible. The restrictions as to communication have been removed, and it has always been intended to admit communication as soon as circumstances allowed.
§ Mr. CRUMLEYCannot they have six hours' exercise instead of two; and is it right to keep a man, against whom no charge is made, locked up for twenty-two hours in a cell?
Mr. SAMUELIt is desired to give them as much exercise as possible, but the accommodation available is not unlimited.
§ 56. Mr. CRUMLEYasked the Prime Minister why Peter Fox, an American citizen, was arrested at Carrickmore, county Tyrone, and is at present confined in Wandsworth detention barracks, no criminal charge having been made against him; whether a letter which he addressed from prison to the American Consul in London on the subject was delivered to the Consul, no acknowledgment or reply to it having been received by the prisoner; and whether the American citizenship papers taken from him at the time of his arrest will be returned to him or submitted to the American Consul if the prisoner so desires?
Mr. SAMUELPeter Fox was arrested under the Defence of the Realm Act as being of hostile origin and associations. Any papers relating to American citizenship which may have been taken from him will be returned should he so desire. I have no information as to the letter alleged to have been addressed to the American Consul, but I am making inquiries.
§ Mr CRUMLEYHave these papers been sent to the American Consul?
§ 66. Mr. W. O'BRIENasked the Prime Minister, in view of his statement that the Irish political prisoners are allowed the ordinary facilities extended to prisoners of war, he will give instructions that all political prisoners incarcerated in connection with the late rebellion in Ireland shall be treated on the same terms as the German prisoners of war are treated in England?
Mr. SAMUELThe question of the disposal of these prisoners is at present under consideration, and the Prime Minister hopes to make a statement on the subject before the House rises.
§ 64. Mr. DEVLINasked the Prime Minister if he will lay upon the Table of the House of Commons the reports of the medical officers regarding the sanitary accommodation provided for, and treatment of, prisoners awaiting trial in the various prisons and hospitals under the military authorities in Dublin?
Mr. SAMUELNo, Sir. The Prime Minister does not think it desirable to publish these reports, and that his own experience in Ireland leads him to think that the sanitary accommodation of the prisoners is satisfactory.
§ Mr. DILLONDid the Prime Minister inspect the sanitary accommodation of what we know as the Black Hole in Dublin?
Mr. SAMUELI cannot answer as to what particular places the Prime Minister went to. I know he visited a large number of places.