72. Colonel NEWMANasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a British subject domiciled in the Irish Free State who desires the assistance of his Government where injured in person or property should make his application to the Colonial Office or to the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant, as the representative of the Crown in the Irish Free State?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODA British subject domiciled in the Free State, who desires the assistance of his Government, should make application to the appropriate Department of that Govern- 2185 ment as soon as it is established; meanwhile any such application should be addressed to the Provisional Government. Every British subject who fails to obtain redress from the Government, whether of the United Kingdom or of a Dominion, has a common law right of petition to the King. In the case under consideration, any such petition should be addressed to His Majesty, either direct or through the Colonial Office.
Colonel NEWMANIn the case of a British subject injured in Mexico, surely he can make an application to our Foreign Office to get redress? In this case it would not be the Foreign Office, and would it not be the Colonial Office?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI am not dealing with the Foreign Office or subjects of the Crown in foreign countries. Thi6 question refers to the Dominions presenting a petition of right from the Dominions to or through the Colonial Office.
§ Sir W. DAVISONWhen the Dominion Government or the Provisional Government of Southern Ireland informs the man who applies for protection that they are unable to afford it, what is the man to do?
§ Lieut.-Colonel WHELERWhen they make an application, are they getting any help or are they getting nothing?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe Provisional Government—under the greatest difficulty, I agree—is doing everything it can to protect the citizens of Southern Ireland. Unfortunately, in many parts of Ireland they are not able to do so.
§ Sir W. DAVISONWhat is a man to do—
§ Mr. SPEAKEROrder, order!