12. Mr. CHANCELLORasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the inhuman barbarities inflicted in the presence of his wife and sister and a crowd of spectators on George Beardsworth, a compulsorily enlisted conscientious objector, in the public park, Birkenhead, on Thursday, 31st August; whether this treatment was inflicted by order of Major Roddey after a court martial had been demanded and refused; whether it created such horror amongst the soldiers that on the following day two of them were punished with seven days' confinement to barracks for refusing to repeat such brutalities on Mr. Beardsworth; whether a court martial can legally be refused to a soldier who demands it; and whether the officer under whose orders these atrocities were committed is still allowed to wear the King's uniform?
§ Mr. FORSTERIt is a very long answer, and I would like to circulate it.—[See Written Answers.]
Mr. E. HARVEYIs it not a very important matter, in view of the remarks of the Noble' Lord the Member for Oxford University (Lord Hugh Cecil)?
Mr. CHANCELLORCan the hon. Gentleman tell us whether a court martial can be legally refused to a soldier who demands it?
§ Mr. FORSTERPerhaps the hon. Member will wait until he sees the answer.