§ 46. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister whether there is a policy of official reprisals by the Crown forces in Ireland; whether the system of collective fines on towns and areas in which crimes have been committed has been approved by him; and 1688 whether these official reprisals and collective fines are confined to the martial law districts in Ireland?
Mr. CHAMBERLAIN (Leader of the House)It is within the discretion of Military Governors in the martial law area to direct the carrying out of punishment on districts in which outrages have been committed. The imposition of collective fines is a legitimate and recognised feature of martial law administration, but so far as my information goes, the occasions on which such fines have been imposed are very few. The general policy pursued by the Military Governors in Ireland has the full approval of the Government. The exercise of the powers referred to is confined to the martial law area.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYDoes the right hon. Gentleman recollect that during the late War one of the charges made against the Germans was this very policy of the collective fine and of reprisals on possibly innocent persons? How does the Cabinet come to approve such a barbarous practice?
Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSHave the Irish Office any information to show that this question was asked on the instruction of Michael Collins?
Captain BENNBefore such a fine is imposed, have the persons on whom it is intended to impose it any opportunity of showing that in fact they are innocent?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThat is a question which the hon. and gallant Gentleman has just addressed to the learned Attorney-General, and my right hon. Friend has answered it.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIn spite of the cheap and insolent remark of the hon. and gallant Member opposite, may I have a reply to my question?
§ Colonel ASHLEYIf these official reprisals are confined to the martial law area, why did the Crown forces burn a creamery in my district, which is not in the martial law area?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI have not spoken of "official reprisals,' which is a term I do not recognise. If my hon. and gallant Friend requires information about 1689 particular incidents he must please give me notice. I cannot be expected to have all the facts of all these cases in my mind.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWill the right hon. Gentleman kindly reply to my question?
Captain BENNIs it the policy of the Cabinet to impose punishment on people collectively or singly without any opportunity being given to them to examine the evidence on which they are punished or to rebut the same?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINIt is obvious that in a large number of these cases the outrages which are perpetrated on the Forces of the Crown, the preparation for those outrages, must be within the knowledge of the inhabitants of the districts—[HON. MEMBERS: "No!"]—and His Majesty's Government think that it is necessary to bring home to the inhabitants of the district their responsibility.
Captain BENNWill the right hon. Gentleman kindly answer the question that I put, whether it is the policy of the Cabinet—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is purely a matter for argument. It cannot be dealt with by question and answer.
Captain BENNThe question I am asking is whether it is the policy of the Government to impose punishment, without giving any opportunity to the accused to rebut the evidence. That, I submit, is a question of fact.
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is a question which has already been put.
§ Mr. SPEAKERNot answered to the hon. and gallant Member's satisfaction, but it has been answered twice by the learned Attorney-General.