§ 22. Mr. DEVLINasked the Chief Secretary how many members of the Crown Forces in Ireland have been arrested for robbery or other charges since 1st January, 1921?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe number of members of the Crown Forces in Ireland who have been arrested for robbery or other offences since 1st January, 1921, is 62.
§ Captain REDMONDDoes the right hon. Gentleman remember that in this House yesterday he admitted that a week elapsed from the occasion when a certain number of cadets of the Auxiliary Force had committed plunder, and that he was not made acquainted with that fact until he saw it in the newspaper, and if that is so, and he has no such control over his administration, how can we be expected to take the figures he now gives us as accurate?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThese figures were supplied to me, in so far as the Army is concerned, by general headquarters in Dublin, and in so far as the police are concerned, by the police headquarters. I will deal with the other 1116 point raised In the question in answer to a Private Notice question.
§ Mr. DEVLINDoes this include the persons dealt with by General Crozier—persons dismissed from the Force?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODNo, I do not think it does.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Prime Minister said that seven cadets had been suspended after the burning of Cork; that 30 men are under arrest in connection with General Crozier's investigation; and does he mean to say that there are only another 23 men all told who have been dealt with? How does he square those statements?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODMy reply was perfectly clear. I do not think these figures include the 26 cadets about which there is so much controversy, and which I will deal with later on.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYDid the right hon. Gentleman not tell me yesterday that those cadets were under arrest now?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe question on the Paper was, "arrested for robbery or other charges." These 26 cadets are under open arrest pending the finding of the investigations now going on.
§ Lieut - Commander KENWORTHYCan the right hon. Gentleman say how cadets who are to be court-martialled can be under open arrest when the platoon commanders are under close arrest; how is that possible.
§ Sir H. GREENWOODWe hold the senior officers much more responsible for any breach of discipline than anyone under them.