§ Mr. T. P. O'CONNOR(by Private Notice) asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland is the Strickland Report on the burnings in Cork to be produced, and why has its production been so long delayed?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Colonel Sir Hamar Greenwood)This question was dealt with fully by the Prime Minister yesterday, and I have nothing further to add.
§ Sir D. MACLEANDoes my right hon. Friend recollect that the Attorney-General for Ireland, in response to a question which I put to him, stated that the Report would be presented to the House, and said that it was the usual practice so to do?
§ Mr. O'CONNORMay I quote from the words of the Attorney-General on the 14th of December, when he stated that both the evidence of the police and the auxiliaries will be taken before the court of inquiry, and when he was asked if the Report would be published he replied:
I think so; that is the usual course.
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI understand that that is not the usual practice. The only reason why the Strickland Report, which is a report by officers of the Army and the police officers, is not made public is because it is not the usual course to publish confidential reports of this kind.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYHas the right hon. Gentleman considered the position of the English insurance companies who have very big liabilities in regard to the burnings in Cork; and also the position of the persons who have lost their property in Cork and are not insured and to whom the question of compensation is a very serious matter?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThere is no foundation for the statement that £3,000,000 or anything like that sum represents the amount of damage done. I have considered all these things, but I am debarred from publishing the Report only because it is against the practice of every Government to publish confidential reports.
§ Sir H. GREENWOODNo.
§ Mr. O'CONNORIs it not a fact that during the concluding days of last Session the right hon. Gentleman expressed a strong hope that he would be able to tell the House of Commons before the Prorogation the result of the inquiry?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI did, and I received no report up to the time the House was prorogued. I always protect myself, as every Minister does, by saying that I could not promise to publish a confidential report. Yesterday the Prime Minister gave the essentials of the Report, in order to inform the House of the worst things in the Report; but it is impossible for an isolated Minister to break this custom and tradition when it is not in the public interest.
§ Sir D. MACLEANAm I to understand that the Prime Minister quoted from an official document yesterday?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODNo. The right hon. Gentleman must not understand that.
Mr. THOMASIf the worst portions of the Report were given by the Prime Minister yesterday, what objection is there to publishing the best portions?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI am the individual who would be most happy to see that Report published, and I must take the blame for not publishing it, in accordance with custom and the public interest.
§ Mr. CLYNESIs the House to understand that the right hon. Gentleman, for technical reasons and reasons of custom, is unable to publish this Report; and if that be so, can he not now agree to a public inquiry into the circumstances?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs this the end of the matter? Is there to be nothing more done?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWWhether or not this is the end of the matter does not depend upon me or the Government, but as there is to be a Debate upon it on Monday, I venture to prophesy that this is not the end of the matter.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYHas the official inquiry been held? Is there to be any inquiry to discover further facts?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODFollowing the custom of the law under the Criminal Injuries Act, an inquiry will be held by the county court judge in Cork to assess the damage.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHIs there any truth in the statement that the right hon. Gentleman invited an Irish Judge to hold an inquiry into General Strickland's Report?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThere is no truth in that statement, and I have never seen that statement.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHI have seen it.
§ Mr. O'CONNORWill the right hon. Gentleman take an opportunity of publicly withdrawing the statement which he made during the closing days of last Session, to the effect that there was no evidence that the forces of the Crown had anything to do with the burnings in Cork, or does he still adhere to that statement?
§ Mr. NEWBOULDIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the essential facts as to who is responsible for the burnings in Cork are well known to the loyalist members who still live there?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI can add nothing to what the Prime Minister said yesterday.