§ 81. Mr. Edmund Harveyasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to complaints of a serious nature as to the treatment of a number of conscientious objectors attached to the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps in a North Western district; and what action has been taken to deal with the situation?
§ The Joint Under-Secretary of State for War (Sir Edward Grigg)Yes, Sir. This his been made a matter for urgent inquiry, and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible. I need hardly add that it is the desire of the Army to treat conscientious objectors with scrupulous fairness in whatever unit they may have been called upon to serve.
§ Mr. HarveyWill the inquiry include the case of men who were recently moved from the district in question?
§ Sir E. GriggYes, Sir.
§ Mr. Glenvil HallMay other Members bring cases to the hon. and gallant Gentleman's notice?
§ Sir E. GriggCertainly.
§ Major MilnerWill the hon. Gentleman send me a copy of the letter?
§ Mr. BensonIs the hon. Gentleman aware of the letter sent by the War Office in September, 1916, dealing with the matter and threatening to remove commanding officers who allow this to take place, and will he reconsider the sending out of that letter once again?
§ Sir E. GriggI should first like to satisfy myself about the facts.