§ 28. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that terrible wounds are daily being inflicted on soldiers and police in many parts of Ireland by expanding flat-nosed bullets, contrary to the usages of all civilised warfare and the Geneva Convention, but that the appropriate penalty of death cannot be inflicted on persons found in possession of such illegal instruments of warfare owing to the fact that martial law has not been formally proclaimed; and whether he will take immediate steps to have martial law proclaimed in all districts where such illegal warfare is being carried on, so that persons found in possession of these foul instruments may be shot and our gallant soldiers and police protected from mutilation and agonising death?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary for Ireland to a question on this subject by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Southport on Monday last.
§ Sir W. DAVISONDid the Chief Secretary not state that the reason why the men found in possession of explosive bullets could not be apprehended was that martial law had not been proclaimed?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, I do not think so. I do not think that can be done without special legislation.
§ Lieut.-Colonel CROFTIn view of the appalling wounds caused by these expanding bullets, will the right hon. Gentleman 24 consider the whole question afresh? Surely some special course must be taken against these horrible and ghastly atrocities.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI quite agree that this adds to the atrocious character of the outrages which have been perpetrated, and, if it were possible within the power of the law to mark our resentment of such conduct and do more than we are doing to repress it, the House may depend upon it that the authorities there will exercise all the powers they possess, but our information is that it cannot be done without fresh legislation.
§ Sir W. DAVISONWill the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries as to whether a proclamation of martial law would not enable the authorities in a given district to apprehend persons found in possession of expanding bullets?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThey could be apprehended now and punished, but that is not quite the point. The question is whether punishment of death can be inflicted. Severe punishment can be inflicted if they are discovered, but the penalty of death cannot be inflicted without some special legislation. I may tell my hon. Friend that that is one of the things we are considering, and we may have to take certain action and ask the House to pass the necessary legislation.