§ 16. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Secretary of State for War whether the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes Board have at any time directed the Navy, Army, and Air Force canteens in Ireland to join the Sinn Fein boycott of British goods; whether this boycott is still in force; and, if not still in force, when it was terminated and under what circumstances?
§ 18. Viscount WOLMERasked the Under-Secretary of State for War, whether he has any further statement to make in regard to orders having been issued to Navy and Army and Air Force Institutes in Ireland that in future only Irish goods are to be sold and in particular with reference to an Order issued from the Irish Area Office, Lord Edward Street, Dublin, dated 31st May, 1921, and 3rd June, 1921, forbidding the future purchase of English-manufactured soaps, candles, biscuits, boot polish, and other commodities; and whether he will give an explanation of the matter?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Lieut.-Colonel Sir R. Sanders)In amplification of the reply which I gave to the Noble Lord on this subject on Friday last, I should like to state that, as I understand, certain difficulties were at one time experienced by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes in London in obtaining English goods requisite for the maintenance of their Irish supply. This was due to the attempted boycott referred to by the hon. Member for Kensington, South, and the consequent unwillingness on the part of British manufacturers to take the risks involved in the carriage of their goods to Ireland. This action had the effect of temporarily 390 interfering with the supply of English goods to Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes in Ireland, and the circulars issued from the office of the Irish Area Manager, to which the Noble Lord refers, were local instructions issued with the intention of warning canteen managers that such temporary interference might take place, and that, in the circumstances, they must make up deficiencies in their stocks by supplying goods of Irish manufacture. There was never any intention of altering the policy in regard to the supply of English made goods or submitting to any boycott, and steps were taken to protect the transport and handling of the supplies from England and to ensure that the supply should be maintained for the future; these steps have proved successful and the normal supply has been resumed.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs the hon. Gentleman aware that I have in my hand a letter from the War Office admitting that these institutes did join the Sinn Fein boycott, and not as stated by him because the manufacturers were unwilling to risk sending goods to Ireland, but because as stated in this letter, in view of the Sinn Fein ban, the warehouses and shops of the institutes in Ireland would be destroyed unless military protection could be had, and such military protection had been refused?
§ Sir R. SANDERSI am not aware of any letter that contained the statement suggested in the first part of my hon. Friend's question.
§ Sir W. DAVISONI have the letter in my hand.
§ Viscount WOLMERCan the right hon. Gentleman say why he denied the existence of this document in reply to my question last Friday?
§ Sir R. SANDERSI received a letter from my Noble Friend this morning which, if he will allow me to say so, I think was unnecessarily, and I hope unintentionally, offensive, calling my attention to this letter which I had never seen before. The answer I gave on Friday was a perfectly accurate answer to the question on the Paper.
§ Viscount WOLMERIs it not a fact that the hon. Gentleman denied that the orders had ever been given at all, and now I have called his attention to the 391 actual document, is it not unfortunate he does not withdraw and apologise?
§ Sir. W. DAVISONWill the Secretary for War say why protection was not given to these institutes to enable them to retail British goods which they had in hand? Is he aware that this letter in my hand was sent by his Parliamentary Private Secretary, on his instructions, to me stating that, owing to the lack of military protection, these goods could not be kept in Ireland, and that unless such military protection was forthcoming no British goods were to be supplied?
§ Sir R. SANDERSMy right hon. Friend informs me that protection was given at the earliest possible moment, and that it has been completely successful.