§ Viscount CURZON(by Private Notice) the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a raid has been made by a party of the Irish Republican Army upon the Clonmel Police Barracks; whether a considerable number of motors, rifles and a large amount of ammunition has been stolen and, if so, how much; whether this raid is to be considered as being a breach of the Truce; whether any representations have been made to the Irish Provisional Government; and whether steps are being taken by them to deal with those responsible for it and to return the stores and gear stolen?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNotice of this question has not reached me. But I can see by the way that the raid has been reported in the newspapers, that it appears to have been a serious affair. There is no doubt whatever that it is hostile, directly hostile, to the Provisional Government of Ireland. They have no need to raid for rifles, because they have only to ask the Imperial Government, and they can have rifles supplied to them—[An HON. MEMBER: "As many as they like?"] As many as are reasonable to equip the force and prevent raids 240 of this character. I know the Provisional Government are very anxious about the state of affairs in Tipperary. That is one of the parts of the country where the Irish Republican Army have mutinied against the general authority of the Provisional Government, and I have been in communication with them to know what steps they are taking to assert their authority in that part of Ireland.
§ Mr. GWYNNEAre we to understand that this raid was made by the Irish Republican Army; we were told the other day that that Army acted on behalf of the Provisional Government?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLOut of 26 counties in Ireland there are three or four districts, including Tipperary, part of Cork and Limerick, where the Provisional Government have been defied by the Irish Republican Army. In the case of Limerick the Provisional Government have turned the men out and put in their own men; and Tipperary will have to be treated in the same way.
§ Mr. GWYNNEDoes the right hon. Gentleman say that the Irish Republican Army is one body, and in some cases acts for the Provisional Government, and in other cases it acts against them? The right hon. Gentleman is now handing over arms and ammunition; how can he be assured that those handed over to one part of the Army will not be used by the other?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI think there is no difficulty at all in understanding the position. The Irish Republican Army as a whole—nine-tenths of it—is obeying the orders of the Provisional Government: perhaps the other tenth—or one-twentieth —is contumacious and is adhering to the Republican section of the Dail. Steps are being taken to secure the authority of the Provisional Government over the whole.