§ 16. Mr. Manderasked the Secretary of State for War the decision he has arrived at with reference to an inquiry into the conditions on board the Motor Ship "Ettrick," when internees were being sent to Canada; or whether he intends to proceed by court-martial?
§ Captain MargessonThe majority of the complaints about the conditions on board relate to accommodation and to the discomfort which arose as a result of overcrowding. As it was essential that the ship should be filled to capacity, the accommodation of passengers was necessarily restricted, and some discomfort was, I regret to say, inevitable. No complaint of general ill-treatment, brutality, or indiscipline on the part of the military escort, however, has been received, and, although there may have been some evidence of unsympathetic treatment by individuals, I am satisfied that it is not of such a nature as to warrant trial by court-martial.
§ Mr. ManderHave complaints not been made about lack of consideration and the 411 failure of officers responsible to go down and find out what the conditions were?
§ Captain MargessonThere have been such complaints, but they have been looked into. As the hon. Member knows, in another case the War Office were most anxious to get to the bottom of the complaints. I have done the same in this case, and I am satisfied.
§ Mr. G. StraussWhere complaints have been made against individual men and officers, has any punishment been given?
§ Captain MargessonNo, Sir, because the complaints have not been substantiated.