§ 18. Mr. HAILWOODasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the release of all men in the Army who are undergoing sentences for military offences committed during the War?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI would refer my hon. Friend to my reply on Wednesday last to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Pontypridd, and to the full 217 statement which I made on the subject of the suspension and remission of sentences generally.
§ Mr. HAILWOODDoes not the right hon. Gentleman consider that a man with two or three years' service to his credit is more entitled to release than a conscientious objector?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI do not quite realise what my hon. Friend has in his mind. Does he mean that a man who has committed a murder with two or three years' military service is more entitled to release than a conscientious objector?
§ Mr. HAILWOODNo; I meant men having two or three years' service to their credit, although they have committed some military crime, are more entitled to freedom than conscientious objectors.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe men who are in prison still have committed the most serious military crimes—crimes which in war time are practically within the area of the death sentence. I do not consider it is possible to deal with such men in any other way than the way we have done.