§ 51. Mr. BYRNEasked the Prime Minister if he will take steps to secure compensation for the dependants of all victims of submarine warfare; whether the Government propose to demand from the German Government the names of the commander and crew of the submarine which was responsible for the murder of 600 passengers on the "Leinster"; and if the Government will see that these men are brought to trial?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWAs regards the first part of the question, I have nothing to add to previous answers. A register is being kept of all such claims in respect of losses due to enemy action.
§ Sir E. CARSONIf a Government official on official duties is on a torpedoed boat do his family get any compensation?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI think so, but I should not like to give a definite answer without looking into the question.
§ Mr. CRUMLEYWould not the right hon Gentleman reconsider the question of giving to these people who have lost all their goods in this vessel some compensation for that loss?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe hon. Member knows that a great deal has been done in connection with this problem in regard to 1283 previous sinkings, and as I said yesterday, special schemes are already in existence to meet the cases of widows and orphans of the officers and crew, and of the postal servants.
§ Mr. FLAVINIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that several deputations of the different Irish political parties have made representations to the Admiralty and the Board of Trade during the last two years as to the need of protection for these mail boats, and, seeing that the men at Kingstown knew that the submarines were outside, why did not—