§ Mr. CLYNES(by Private Notice) asked the Lord Privy Seal whether his attention has been drawn to the manifesto of the Trades Union Congress calling a general strike in Ireland as a protest against the treatment of Irish political prisoners in Mountjoy Prison and elsewhere; whether it is a fact that these prisoners have been arrested merely on suspicion and without being brought to trial, and are being treated as common criminals and not as political prisoners; and whether, in view of the grave crisis which will arise from a general stoppage of work in Ireland, he can make any statement of Government policy on this matter?
§ Mr. ARCHDALEIs it not a fact that the Irish Trade Union Congress is practically a Sinn Fein body, and that the real trade union bodies in Ireland have nothing at all to say to it?
§ Mr. BONAR LAW (Leader of the House)I was not personally aware of the constitution of the body to which my right hon. Friend refers.
§ Mr. SEXTONIt is not true.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The facts are not as stated in the question, as some of those imprisoned are convicted prisoners, while those who have been arrested without trial are being treated under the rules for untried prisoners. This is a matter, in the first instance, for the decision of the Irish Government, in which His Majesty's Government has full confidence.
§ Mr. CLYNESIs it not a fact that very many of these prisoners who are detained, both in this country and in Mountjoy prison in Ireland, are so detained without charges being preferred against them and without trial of any sort?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWYes, that is a fact which we have stated many times, and I should have thought the whole House would recognise that in a condition such as exists in Ireland, where murder is so rife, it is necessary, if people's lives are to be protected, that people should be arrested on suspicion. That has been done by this Government as it has been done before when Ireland was in a similar state, and the Government have no intention of altering the practice.
§ Mr. CLYNESIn view of the terms of the right hon. Gentleman's reply I shall take an opportunity to raise the question during the course of the discussion this afternoon.
§ Mr. SEXTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this does not apply only in Ireland? Three men were arrested in Liverpool last week, who were not Irish residents at all, but trade unionists going about their ordinary business, and deported without any trial or any statement of what their crime was.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI have stated that people are arrested on suspicion. I am sure hon. Members, like the Government, greatly deplore deaths occurring by people committing suicide in these circumstances, and I suggest to them that to give the impression that political action here may alter the decision of the Government is likely to increase the danger.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYHave the Government considered the effect on loyal Colonial opinion of the death of these untried and possibly innocent men in view of the many other 1506 mistakes which have already been made by the Executive in Ireland?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIs the alternative suggested by such questions that the Government having taken the responsibility of deciding that it is necessary in the public interest to arrest these men, they should be released?
§ Mr. HOGGEIn view of the fact that the Government, and presumably the whole House, want a settlement of the Irish question, what steps is the right hon. Gentleman taking, apart from arresting people on suspicion, to avoid death of any kind by these men refusing, quite naturally, to take food?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI have already answered that. The Government consider it their duty, as has been done over and over again when Ireland has been in a similar condition, to arrest these men on suspicion in order to prevent crime. We have done so and we feel it to be our duty to continue to do so, and it would be perfectly futile to do it if men are to be released because they choose to refuse food.
§ Mr. HOGGEIf men are arrested on suspicion how long is it to be the policy of the Government that these men are not to be tried?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThat is a problematical question which I cannot answer, but I can say at once that, so long as crime is going on, such as that which occurred in Dublin the other day, any Government would fail in its duty if it did not arrest men who are suspected of taking part in these crimes.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the decision to keep these men in prison, even when they are in danger of death, is a decision arrived at by the Government or by the Irish Executive? Is he aware that the Lord Lieutenant has stated that the responsibility rests with the Cabinet, whereas the right hon. Gentleman now states that the responsibility rests with the Irish Executive? Further, can he say whether the whole question is now under the consideration of the Government?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI did not say that the responsibility rests with the Irish Government. I said that the decision in the first instance was with the Irish 1507 Government. The answer which I gave in regard to a similar case which occurred in England showed that His Majesty's Government had definitely considered the matter, and had taken action.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether this question, the gravity of which is recognised, is still under the consideration of the Government?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe question which the hon. Member has put is precisely the kind of question which I deplore, if it raises a hope in the mind of these people that our decision will be changed. The decision has been taken by His Majesty's Government, and I do not believe there is any chance of altering it.