HC Deb 16 February 1921 vol 138 cc90-2
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. MACLEAN

Does 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'CONNOR

May 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. GREENWOOD

I 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 KENWORTHY

Has 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. GREENWOOD

There 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.

Mr. HOGGE

Is not the real reason that the Government are afraid to publish the Report?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

No.

Mr. O'CONNOR

Is 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. GREENWOOD

I 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. MACLEAN

Am I to understand that the Prime Minister quoted from an official document yesterday?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

No. The right hon. Gentleman must not understand that.

Mr. THOMAS

If the worst portions of the Report were given by the Prime Minister yesterday, what objection is there to publishing the best portions?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

I 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. HOGGE

Why do you not resign?

Mr. CLYNES

Is 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 KENWORTHY

Is this the end of the matter? Is there to be nothing more done?

Mr. BONAR LAW

Whether 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 KENWORTHY

Has the official inquiry been held? Is there to be any inquiry to discover further facts?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

Following 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. MacVEAGH

Is 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. GREENWOOD

There is no truth in that statement, and I have never seen that statement.

Mr. MacVEAGH

I have seen it.

Mr. O'CONNOR

Will 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. NEWBOULD

Is 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. GREENWOOD

I can add nothing to what the Prime Minister said yesterday.

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