§ 56. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies who is now in possession of the shot-guns and rifles which were taken charge of by the Royal Irish Constabulary in Southern Ireland; whether the British Government, who took the arms, are responsible for their return to their owners or, in the alternative, will compensate them for their loss; and who is the person to whom applications should be addressed?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODIn reply to the first part of the question, these arms are now in the custody of the military authorities. In reply to the second part, the question of the return of such arms to owners resident in Ireland or of compensation in the event of loss cannot be considered unless and until the Irish authorities remove the present embargo on the possession of arms by private persons. Applications for the return of arms to owners resident in England should be addressed to the War Office. I am in communication with the Treasury on the subject of compensation in the event of the loss of arms belonging to persons resident in England, and any communications on this subject should be addressed to the Irish Office.
§ Sir W. DAVISONWhat are the authorities to whom he refers as having the custody of these arms?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe Imperial military authorities.
§ Sir W. DAVISONAre the arms now transferred to England, then, or where are they?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODSome of them are in Northern Ireland, some in Southern Ireland, and some in Great Britain.
§ Sir W. DAVISONMy question refers to Southern Ireland, and as to whether those arms have been taken from Southern Ireland?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODIn reference to these specific arms, they are under Imperial military custody in Southern Ireland, and some are in Great Britain.
§ 58. Sir C. YATEasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many guns and rifles, respectively, have been handed over by the British Government to the Free State Provisional Government in Ireland and what amount of ammunition; what is the limit of the number of men that may be enlisted by the Free State Government in Ireland under the terms of the Treaty; and whether that number has been exceeded under the present call to arms by the Free State Government?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Churchill)I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the replies which I gave on the 13th instant to two questions addressed to me by the Noble Lord the Member for Aldershot (Viscount Weimer).
§ Viscount WOLMERHas the limit of 30,000 rifles, which he then said had not been exceeded, still not been exceeded?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLStill not been exceeded.
§ Sir C. YATEWill the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of my question?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI think I did. I said the last time that under the Treaty an army of between 30,000 and 40,000 men might not be in excess of the provision which Ireland is entitled to make and that that had not yet been exceeded. At the same time, if special circumstances warranted the need of a larger force to suppress the present condition of disorder, the Government would feel themselves perfectly at liberty to consider that matter.