46. Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSasked the Prime Minister whether any decision has yet been reached to discontinue as authorised military reprisals in Ireland the destruction of the property of those against whom no crime can be proved?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Colonel Sir Hamar Greenwood)I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Harrow on 9th June. I would add that the Commander-in-Chief has recently issued orders that every action taken against property must be based on strictly military grounds defined by military orders.
§ Captain W. BENNHas a decision been reached as to affording compensation to those punished under the previous policy?
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTIs it the alleged on Saturday, that the Government have decided to stop reprisals in the meantime?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI have tried to answer that in the main reply, taken in connection with a previous answer to the hon. Member for Harrow (Mr. Mosley) on 9th June.
Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that only 30 last week the competent military authority in Cork published a notice in the Press to the effect that they had burned two houses in connection with the murder of some policemen, although the owners of those houses were in no way accused of any participation in this hideous crime? In view of the right hon. Gentlemen's answer, would he say whether this kind of reprisal, long after the event and where there is no direct participation, will now be brought to an end?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI have tried to answer that by saying that the Commander-in-Chief has recently issued an order that every action taken against property must be based on strictly military grounds defined by military orders. If there be any infraction of that, it will be for the Commander-in-Chief to deal with it.
Mr. M. SCOTTWould the right hon. Gentleman say, not relating to the Commander-in-Chief, whether there has been any decision by the Government to stop reprisals?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODIt is impossible to answer that, for this reason, that different Members of the House have different definitions of the word "reprisals". My best answer is an answer that refers to the whole action of the Crown forces in Ireland, and I think it is an answer that meets the view of the House as exemplified in the recent Debate.
§ Lord R. CECILWhat is meant by the phrase "military grounds"?
§ Captain BENNWill compensation be paid to the innocent victims of the earlier policy?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThere are still many more questions on the Paper.