§ 14. Major MACKENZIE WOODasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that serious discontent exists among internees in Rath Internment Camp with regard to conditions prevailing there; whether the food ration has been reduced, that the receiving and sending of letters and parcels have been stopped, and that military pickets have been preventing internees from cooking food previously received in parcels from friends; whether Rath Camp is treated differently from others in these matters; and, if so, why that should be so?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODRath Internment Camp is subject to the same rules as other internment camps in Ireland, namely, those laid down in the Royal Warrant for the treatment of prisoners of war. Following an outbreak of concerted insubordination, measures were taken, in accordance with those rules, for the restoration of discipline, and these measures included a curtailment of rations and of privileges.
§ Major WOODDoes the right hon. Gentleman consider that it is a civilised method of punishing prisoners to put them on famine rations?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ARCHER-SHEEIs it not a fact that amongst these internees are a great many people who have committed the most foul murders?
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYTry them!
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThere is no famine ration involved. Some of the internees are suspected of murder.
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThey are not tried for the same reason that you cannot 2038 try the same Sinn Fein men in London when they have committed murders, namely, the difficulty of getting any evidence.
§ Major WOODIf these men are hungry and have not enough to eat, and their friends send them parcels, why should the authorities interfere to prevent them from eating and cooking what is sent to them?
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKIs there any object in the right hon. Gentleman's following the German method?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYGo to Leipzig!
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe internment camps in Ireland are entirely under military control, and I have every confidence in the administration of the military officers.