§ 34. Viscount SANDONasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a full investigation is being made into the cause of the murders and unrest twice exhibited this year in the Solomon Islands; whether steps are being taken to rectify such a state of affairs; whether those guilty of these crimes have been tried; and, if so, what penalty has been inflicted?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe Reports upon the outrages at Guadalcanal and Malaita are not yet complete, and I should prefer to await the receipt of additional Reports by the Resident Com-missioner of the Protectorate before deciding whether any investigations beyond those instituted by the local administration are called for. I have heard by telegraph that the trial of the natives accused of the murders at Guadalcanal has taken place, but I am not yet informed as to the findings. It is unlikely that the trial of individuals arrested in connection with the outrage on Malaita will have yet taken place.
§ Viscount SANDONShall we know the result of these inquiries?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREWhich particular inquiry?
§ Viscount SANDONThe Under-Secretary has said that a number of inquiries are going on.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREIf the hon. Member will put a question down as to the inquiry on which he desires information, I will see that he gets it.
§ Colonel DAYThe Under-Secretary says that he is awaiting information. Can he say when this report is due?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe hon. Member is aware that communication between these islands and the outside world is not very frequent. As the mail comes in, no doubt I shall receive these reports, but it may be some time before I receive a complete account.
§ 58. Colonel DAYasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies the size of the special force of constabulary that has been sent to the Solomon Islands for the purpose of restoring order and effecting the arrest of the murderers of District Commissioner Bell, Cadet Lillies, and 15 native policemen; whether he has any information as to the numbers of the force landed from His Majesty's Australian ship "Adelaide," as a stiffening force; and if he can give the House full particulars of the two bases that have been established, one near the site of the outrage and the other more inland?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREA constabulary force has not been sent from outside the Protectorate. The detachment sent to Malaita was formed from other islands of the group, the first party consisting of 30 Europeans and 50 natives. Later it was reported that the European numbers might be reduced to 10 if additional native police were provided. Thereupon steps were taken to provide an additional 50 native constables for the inland base and a further 30 to act as escort for the conveyance of supplies. The size of the force landed from His Majesty's Australian ship "Adelaide" has not been reported. An early report mentioned that a stiffening force of 30 naval ranks was to proceed inland. The first base to be established was at Sinarango. The inland base was eventually established at Gonailu and was equipped with field service wireless plant.
Vice-Admiral Sir REGINALD HALLWill an inquiry be held into the murder of these British civil servants?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREAs I have said in reply to another question, we have only had telegraphic reports so far, and we have not decided whether we will have an inquiry by an outside officer or whether we will have a purely local inquiry by the High Commissioner of the Western Pacific.
Sir R. HALLIs not a public inquiry demanded in view of the fact that these were British civil servants?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREIt is certainly very desirable that the circumstances which led to this unfortunate murder should be fully made known to the public and explained, but until the situation has been cleared up locally, and until I am advised by the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific as to how the inquiry should be constituted, I would not like to commit myself to the precise form of inquiry. There will be an inquiry.
Sir R. HALLCan it be accepted that British civil servants, serving under a Colonial Government, are to be subject to a local inquiry if an accident happens; when they lose their lives, is not a public inquiry essential?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREIt depends on what my hon. and gallant Friend means by the words "public inquiry." Certainly, there will be an inquiry, but we shall proceed as usual in accordance with the Colonial Regulations in this matter. How far it is desirable in the circum-stances of this murder to have a public inquiry, or how far it is desirable to have a judicial inquiry, is a matter that we must weigh.