48. Colonel NEWMANasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that orders have been issued by the competent authority of the Irish Republican Army that under pain of severe punishment the auction or sale of military hutments, equipment, stores, or buildings is not to be undertaken by those who generally undertake such sales; and whether, in 19 consequence, such military material has had to be handed over to the Irish Republican Army or their friends on nominal terms or by way of free gift?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am informed that a notice was recently issued by a person styling himself a brigade commandant of the Irish Republican Army prohibiting the purchase by members of the public of certain army hutments and stores that were being offered for sale. This person was not acting under the authority of the Provisional Government. The stores and hutments in question were subsequently handed over by the Army authorities, acting as agents of the Disposals Board, to a representative of the Provisional Government, subject to a valuation and to their being taken into account in the ultimate financial settlement between His Majesty s Government and the Government of the Irish Free State.
Colonel NEWMANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that numbers of people like myself, who have had houses burnt, want to get these huts to live in, and is he aware that we take the risk of being shot?
§ Sir W. DAVISONHave any steps been taken to punish this officer of the Irish Republican Army who wrongfully issued this order? That is what we want to know.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI must have notice of that question.
49. Colonel NEWMANasked the Prime Minister why the material and stores of the military camps at Kilworth and Moorpark, in County Cork, were not put up to auction, but handed over to the Irish Republican Army; and what. has been done with the large extent of land which was bought not so many years ago for the purposes of forming an important training area for the South Irish military district?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe military authorities in Ireland, acting as agents of the Disposals Board, have handed over the material and stores in the military camps at Kilworth and Moorpark to representatives of the Provisional Government, subject to a valuation, which will be taken into account in the final financial settlement between His Majesty's Government and the Government of the 20 Irish Free State. As regards the land, the Provisional Government have undertaken to hold it subject to whatever agreement may be arrived at between the two Governments as to its future ownership, or as to the terms of its acquisition in the event of the ownership passing finally to the Government of the Irish Free State.
§ Viscount CURZONHave these stores and so on been handed over to the Irish Republican Army, and, if so, to which branch of the Irish Republican Army—de Valera's or Collins'?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI never used the words "Irish Republican Army." I said "representatives of the Provisional Government."
Colonel NEWMANAre not those who have possession of these stores and so on entitled to sell them at a fair price?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLYes, certainly. We have all the proprietary rights of private property.
§ Mr. R. McNEILLDoes it not come to this, that valuable property belonging to the British taxpayer is being handed over on no better security than the credit of the Irish Provisional Government?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI think it is undoubtedly true that large quantities of property which cannot otherwise be safeguarded, now that our troops are leaving the country, are being handed over to the Provisional Government, end the credit of the Provisional Government is responsible for the proper adjustment of the accounts.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERIs the right hon. Gentleman sure he is not handing over these valuable stores for the benefit of a Republican Government?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is a matter for argument.
§ Mr. R. McNEILLYou will never see a sixpence for them.