KIDNAPPED BRITISH OFFICERS. (Hansard, 4 July 1922)

§ 15. Captain Viscount CURZON
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what stops the Government have taken to discover the fate and avenge the murder of the three officers and one private murdered at Macroom, and the two officers murdered in South Kurdistan, respectively; and with what result?

§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Edward Wood)
The Secretary of State is not yet in a position to add anything to his previous replies on this subject so far as regards Macroom. With regard to Kurdistan, the Secretary of State proposes to make a statement to the House to-morrow.

§ Viscount CURZON
Was the statement published in the Press with regard to these officers correct, namely, that they were strung up to a tree immediately after capture?

§ Mr. WOOD
As far as I am aware, there is no confirmation of that statement. The Noble Lord will see that that is what my right hon. Friend stated in his reply.

§ Lieut.-Colonel NALL
In view of the fact that British troops were reported to have surrounded the castle to which the kidnappers went, has the Government been quite unable to get any information as to the disposal of their victims?

§ Mr. WOOD
The Government have made every effort to ascertain the exact facts, and I am not in a position to add anything to what I have said.

§ Lieut.-Colonel NALL
Can the Government say why the troops, which at one time surrounded the castle in which the kidnappers were located, were withdrawn before arresting any of the Free State men?

§ Mr. WOOD
My hon and gallant Friend is asking me something that does not arise out of the question on the Paper. He is not asking for information: he has been kind enough to give me information.

§ Sir W. DAVISON
Has the Government of Northern Ireland not valuable information as to the fate of these officers, and has the Secretary for the Colonies communicated with the Government of Northern Ireland on the matter?

§ Mr. WOOD
I cannot add anything to what I have said. If the Government of Northern Ireland have information which His Majesty's Government do not possess, we should be grateful if they would forward it.