§ 116. Mr. BYRNEasked the Undersecretary of State for War if he is aware that a number of Irishmen have been induced to leave Ireland within the past two months to take employment in Great Britain and have since been compelled by 300 the military authorities to become conscripts; if he will take the necessary steps to see that the Miltary Service Act will be carried out as intended by the House of Commons; and if he will order the release of those men who are only temporarily resident in Great Britain and are here at the invitation of British employers?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Macpherson)I have no knowledge of the matters referred to in the question, but if my hon. Friend will supply particulars of concrete cases, inquiries will be made into the matter. I must refer him to the answer which I gave to him on 7th March, 1917, with reference to the steps which have been taken for the protection of Irishmen who are temporarily resident in Great Britain.
§ Mr. BYRNEIs the hon. Gentleman aware that I have sent to the War Office and have received a reply signed by the hon. Gentleman himself, in which I drew attention to the case of a boy who came from Dublin to take employment on an English railway and was conscripted in three weeks, and to another case, when a boy was conscripted after five weeks in this country?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIf the hon. Member can give me concrete cases I will have inquiry made. All these cases were tried by the civil courts.