§ 46. Mr. BILLINGasked the Prime Minister whether he is prepared to give an early date for a Debate on our Air Services, policies, and administrations, in order to enable the Members of this House to express the views of their constituents on the question of reprisals?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Bonar Law)The answer is in the negative.
§ Mr. BILLINGMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the War Cabinet, the Government or this House of Commons are responsible to the people for the policy and for the conduct of this War?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe War Cabinet is responsible to this House, and between us we are responsible to the people.
§ Mr. BILLINGWill the right hon. Gentleman give this House an opportunity of expressing its views or at least the views of the country?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI have answered questions of this kind, I think, about once a day for ten days, and I have stated more than once that if I find there is any general desire to discuss the subject an opportunity will be given.
§ Colonel C. LOWTHERMay I ask if the bombing of our cities and the murder of our women and children and other acts against civilised warfare are to go on for ever unpunished?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWNo, not if we are able to stop them.
§ Mr. P. A. HARRISIs it not a fact that yesterday Lord Cowdray made a full and frank statement to many Members of this House who required explanation and that he explained why that information had to be confidential?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI am well aware of the meeting yesterday, and I think that it was very desirable.
§ 65. Colonel C. LOWTHERasked the Prime Minister whether his refusal to entertain any organised system of re- 366 prisals is due to the fact of their impracticability or to the Government's antipathy to methods which they consider barbarous?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI can only refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to him yesterday.
§ Colonel LOWTHERIn spite of the answer, will the Government consider one form of reprisals which admits of no delay, and that is the ignition of German forests? Has my right hon. Friend's attention been called to an admirable pamphlet by Professor Beale, in which he shows that a series of aeroplanes armed with special incendiary devices could very easily set on fire the Black Forest and other very valuable forest land?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI need not tell my hon. and gallant Friend that this is not the first time we have heard of that suggestion.