§ 84. Mr. SNOWDENasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department what action the Home Office have taken to protect the men employed under the Home Office scheme at Princetown, where the men are being persistently attacked and seriously injured by bands of soldiers; if representations have been made to the military authorities about this conduct by soldiers; and what action the Home Office has taken about the conduct of the police who have been present when these attacks have been made, but have remained passive spectators?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Brace)As soon as information was received at the Home Office that attacks had been made on conscientious objectors on their way from prison to Princetown, telegraphic instructions were given to the police to take steps for their protection. The police had, however, already done their utmost to protect the 1284 conscientious objectors. The disturbances occurred unexpectedly, and the number of police now available is, of course, very small. I am informed that there is no foundation for the allegation in the last part of the question.
§ Commander WEDGWOODHow did the soldiers get to know that this man was a conscientious objector?
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEBecause they saw him with a fishing-rod.
§ Commander WEDGWOODHow did the troops know before they attacked him that the man was a conscientious objector?
§ Mr. BRACEI am afraid that I have no direct information upon the matter. I was informed that when the conscientious objectors were passing through Yelverton some circulars were thrown out. I imagine that the conscientious objectors themselves must have made the fact known or the soldiers would not have known, but that is no excuse for not offering them all the protection that we can when they are passing from one work centre to another.
§ Commander WEDGWOODHas there been more than one case at Yelverton?
§ Commander WEDGWOODWill my hon. Friend see that these men are not dressed in a costume which gives them away as conscientious objectors?
§ Mr. BRACEThey do not wear uniform, but conscientious objectors are none too modest, and if they make themselves known to the public in any way, of course it is rather difficult, because there are not large numbers of police, so many of them having joined the Army.
§ Commander WEDGWOODIs the hon. Gentleman aware that these men who were attacked are not really conscientious objectors, but people who have taken alternative service, and therefore people who ought to be supported by the Government?