§ 9. Mr. GINNELLasked whether particulars have been conveyed to the Argentine Government of the charge, if any, against Mrs. Wetzger, an Argentine citizen now interned at Aylesbury; of the date of her arrest; of the reason why she was for six months after her arrest prevented from communicating with her husband; and whether a representative of the Argentine Government has been or will be allowed to interview Mrs. Wetzger apart from prison witnesses?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Herbert SamuelMy right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this. Mrs. Wetzger is not an Argentine citizen, but a German subject. The answer to the first and last parts of the question are, therefore, in the negative. She was arrested on 7th December last. She could have written to her husband before 15th January, but did not avail herself of the facility. At that date, owing to an attempt to smuggle a letter out of the place of internment, she was deprived of the privilege of writing letters for four months. Since the expiry of that period she has written several letters to her husband and other persons.
§ 21. Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether three men, named Hubert Wilson, James Farrell, and Patrick Connaughton, are at present interned at Frongoch; whether no charge of any kind has been made against them; whether, in the case of Wilson, his only offence was to say that although he was not a Sinn Feiner he had sympathy with them, and in the case of Farrell he simply did not answer, through ignorance, a question put to him by the Advisory Committee; and will he undertake personally to inquire into these cases and direct the release of these men who have been now five months in custody?
§ Mr. SAMUELMy right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. The ground for the internment of each of these men was stated in the notice of the Order which was served upon him. They had full opportunities of stating their cases to the Advisory Committee, who recommended their continued internment, but I will inquire whether these are cases in which release could now be allowed under guarantees.
§ Mr. FARRELLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that two of these men, Wilson and Farrell, are absolutely innocent of any complicity, and that no charge whatever was made against them?
§ Mr. SAMUELIf that were so, I do not think that the Advisory Committee would have recommended their internment.
Mr. NUGENTWould the right hon. Gentleman supply us with a copy of this document these men are supposed to sign, so that we may have a look at it?
§ Mr. SAMUELI have already stated the terms of it in answer to a question.
§ Mr. SAMUELYes.
§ Mr. FARRELLDo I understand that the grounds on which the Advisory Committee refused their release were communicated to them?
§ Mr. SAMUELNo, Sir; I should say probably not. The grounds on which they were interned were communicated to them, and were communicated to the Committee, who decided that the internment should continue.
§ Mr. BYRNEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Advisory Committee dealt on the average with over 100 cases per day? What consideration could they give to any man's case, dealing with 100 cases in a few hours?
§ Mr. SAMUELI think that the hon. Member is quite mistaken in stating "over 100 cases." If that were so, they would have completed their inquiry in sixteen days, whereas it took them several weeks.