§ 21. Professor Savoryasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he has made application to the Government of Eire for the arrest and extradition of the armed men who entered Northern Ireland from Eire at Culloville, County Armagh, on and September, and who, after wounding one constable and laying hands on another, returned in their lorry and motor-car to Eire; also of the armed men who on 4th September attacked the police barracks of the Royal Irish Constabulary at Belleek, County Fermanagh, on the border of Eire, with rifle fire and bombs; and also of the armed men who, on 5th September, ambushed and mortally wounded two constables at Clady, County Tyrone, 300 yards from the Border of Eire?
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs (Mr. Emrys-Evans)No, Sir. His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom deeply deplore these criminal outrages, and are anxious to give the Northern Ireland Government all help in their power to prevent or suppress them. They are, however, satisfied that representations to the Eire Government would not facilitate the task of the Government of Northern Ireland in dealing with such crimes. There is no evidence that the Eire authorities have not used every endeavour to prevent their 650 territory from being used in connection with such attacks.
§ Professor SavoryIs the hon. Member aware that the motor car and the lorry which had invaded Northern Ireland at Culloville, County Armagh, were afterwards found at Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, abandoned—evident proof that these raiders had returned to Eire?
§ Major Sir Ronald RossIs not the prevention of the invasion of United Kingdom territory by armed forces from outside a matter for the United Kingdom Government?
§ Professor SavoryIs the payment of compensation for the widows and children of the murdered constables to fall upon Northern Ireland?
§ Mr. Emrys-EvansIf the hon. Member will put down that Question, it will be replied to.
§ Sir R. RossDoes the Under-Secretary say that attacks upon United Kingdom territory from the Dominions are not a matter for the Dominions Office?
§ Mr. Emrys-EvansIt is a matter for the Northern Ireland Government to take up.
§ Sir R. RossThey have done so.
§ 44 and 67. Professor Savoryasked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he will inform the House as to how the tommy-guns and automatics reported to be of British manufacture came into the hands of the armed men who, on 2nd September, entered Northern Ireland from Eire, at Culloville, County Armagh, and who, after wounding a sergeant and laying hands on a constable, returned to Eire in their motor-car and lorry;
(2) whether his attention has been directed to the large supply dump of arms discovered on 31st August at Hannahstown, County Antrim; how many of the following articles found there were of British manufacture, namely, a number of Lewis guns, Thompson machine guns, Webley revolvers, barrels of potassium chlorate, explosive tear-gas containers, sticks of gelignite, Lee-Enfield service rifles, and thousands of rounds of ammunition; and whether he is in a position to inform the House how the above named articles fell into the hands of the Irish Republican Array?
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Peake)I have been asked to reply. Inquiries have been made of the Northern Ireland authorities, and I understand that they have no information to enable them to confirm the report that the persons who attacked the police officers at Culloville were armed with weapons of British manufacture. As regards the weapons, anmiunition and explosives found at Hannahstown, it is known that weapons have in recent years been acquired by the I.R.A. from various sources, including countries overseas, but it is not possible to say from what sources the particular weapons and other things found in this Hannahstown store were acquired. It would not, on the information at present available, be justifiable to assume that weapons which can be identified as of British manufacture were in the possession of British authorities at the time when I.R.A. agents managed to secure possession of them.
§ Professor SavoryIs my hon. Friend aware of the grave concern felt in Northern Ireland owing to the fact that these weapons of British manufacture have fallen into the hands of the invaders of Northern Ireland? Further, is he aware that immense dumps have now been discovered and is there not grave fear of the terrible events of 1922—which, no doubt, my hon. Friend will remember—being again repeated?
§ Mr. PeakeI hope nothing will be suggested by my hon. Friend which will do anything to undermine confidence in the Royal Ulster Constabulary, upon whom the primary responsibility in this matter falls.
§ Sir R. RossIs it my hon. Friend's idea that the primary responsibility for the defence of the United Kingdom against armed attack from outside is a matter for the police?
§ Mr. PeakeWe have been in communication with the Northern Ireland authorities, and they have assured us that this matter is well in hand and that they are perfectly capable of dealing with outrages of this character.
§ Sir R. RossIs it fair that the civil police should have to fight against people armed with machine guns coming in from neutral territory while the Army is standing by?
§ Mr. GallacherIs it not the case that these are British machine guns out of which some Tories have been making a profit?