§ 20. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that sentences passed on convicted Communists at Singapore include 25 lashes with the cat; and, if so, whether he will prevent such punishment for political offences in the British Empire?
§ Mr. AMERYThe right hon. Member's question is understood to refer to the sentences recently imposed on Wangteck Chai at Singapore. This man was found in possession of explosives and materials for the manufacture of bombs such as have actually been thrown recently in Singapore. Seditious literature, including papers, relating to the manufacture of bombs and the organisation of incendiarism and riots, was also found in his possession. He was sentenced to seven years' rigorous imprisonment and 24 strokes of the cat for the possession of the explosives and to penal servitude for life for the possession of seditious literature. I see no reason to ask the local Government to abolish such punishments for offences of this nature.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODMay I ask whether revolutionaries in the past who have introduced arms and seditious literature into other countries, and even in Italy, have been punished by torture, and whether imprisonment has not been found sufficient?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the Home Secretary aware that Members of this House have been guilty of arms-running for revolutionary purposes in Ireland?
§ Colonel WEDGWOODMay I press the right hon. Gentleman for an answer to my question?
§ Mr. SPEAKERBoth questions were of a historical nature, which the hon. Members could answer for themselves from the records.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODOn that point of Order. This is the first occasion on which torture has been resorted to for the punishment of certain offences, and are we not justified in asking the Secretary in charge of the Department whether he sanctions and approves of this form of torture for what has been deemed in the past a political offence?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI should like to see that question before it is put on the Paper.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIt is the same as the Home Secretary's offence — political — "Shoot, and be damned!"