Major HOPEasked the Prime Minister whether Section 14, on page 5 of the new White Paper, contains the whole of the telegram dispatched by General Sir Arthur Paget to the Secretary of State for War; and what was the time at which this telegram was received?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI presume the hon. Member refers to the telegram of the 20th March. The answer is in the negative. As regards the latter part, I am not prepared to add anything to the very full information already published.
Major HOPEasked the Prime Minister whether any communication passed between the Secretary of State for War and General Sir Arthur Paget after the former had received Telegram No. 14 and before Telegram No. 15 was dispatched by Sir Arthur Paget?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, Sir.
§ Mr. AMERYasked the Prime Minister if he will publish the correspondence between General Friend and Sir A. Paget and the Great Northern Railway of Ireland, referred to in Nos. IX. and XVI. of the second White Paper?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, Sir.
§ Mr. AMERYasked the Prime Minister on what grounds it was desirable, as stated in No. VII. of the second White 1362W Paper, that the movement of the Bed-fords to guard stores at Enniskillen, Armagh, and Omagh, the movement of the Dorsets out of Belfast involving the hurried removal of the stores, and the movement of an Infantry battalion to Dundalk and Newry, should all be simultaneous and be complete by dawn by Saturday, 21st March?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt was considered that this was the best and most effective method of carrying out the Government's decision.
§ Mr. AMERYasked the Prime Minister whether the men of the 8th (howitzer) Brigade Royal Field Artillery and 15th Brigade Royal Field Artillery at Kildare were confined to barracks on the evening of 20th March; whether, on the 21st, the howitzer shells were got ready for instant use; whether two days' rations for the men were served out, the horses' feed packed, and blankets and kits packed and put on the wagons; and whether there was any connection between these warlike preparations and the possible danger of an attempt by evil-disposed persons to loot reservists' stores at certain depots in Ulster?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have given the House all the information I possess on this subject.
§ Mr. RAWLINSONasked the Prime Minister whether there is any, and what, procedure for appointing a general officer commanding troops in Ireland a resident magistrate; and what was the reason why the appointment of Major-General Friend was made in this case?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI would refer the hon. and learned Member to the answer which I gave to-day to the hon. and learned Member for East Kent on this subject.
§ Mr. AMERYasked the Prime Minister if he will publish the full telegraphic report of Sir A. Paget's interview with the officers of the Third Cavalry Brigade at the Curragh, promised in No. XXIII. of the second White Paper?
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§ The PRIME MINISTERNo such telegraphic report was sent.
§ Mr. AMERYasked the Prime Minister whether he will publish the orders issued or notifications given to the military authorities at Aldershot and other military headquarters in Great Britain with regard to the eventuality of troops being moved to Ireland?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs I have already stated, I am not aware that any such orders were given.
§ Mr. AMERYasked the Prime Minister whether he is now in a position to publish the exact text of the query submitted by General Gough to Sir J. French on 23rd March as to the meaning of the Army Council Memorandum of 23rd March, and the exact wording of the confirmation written across it by Sir J. French?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe matter has already been explained in the House on 25th March.
§ Mr. GEORGE FABERasked the Prime Minister whether he was present at the meeting at the War Office with Sir A. Paget on the 18th or on the 19th March?
§ Mr. GEORGE FABERasked the Prime Minister what was the date when a conference was held, presided over by the Prime Minister, between Members of the Cabinet, the principal members of the Army Council, and Sir A. Paget; what instructions were then given to Sir A. Paget?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIn reply to this and the following question, I was never present at any of the meetings at the War Office. I invited General Paget and some of the principal officers at the War Office to confer with me and some of my colleagues in Downing Street on 18th March. The orders already settled instructing General Paget to take steps for the protection of the depots were gone over, and in no way altered or varied. The object of the conference was to obtain a free and confidential survey from the military advisers of the Government of the general situation, actual and prospective, not only in Ulster, but in Ireland as a whole. Con-1364W siderable discussion took place on the subject, but no further or other instructions were given.
§ Mr. GEORGE FABERasked whether there is any record at the War Office or in the possession of Sir A. Paget of the instructions, or the nature of the instructions, orally given to Sir A. Paget at the meetings of the 18th and 19th March?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, Sir. There is a record summarising the instructions verbally given to Sir Arthur Paget.
§ Mr. GEORGE FABERasked the Prime Minister why the instructions to Sir A. Paget of the 18th and 19th March for the information of the officers of his brigade were given him verbally by the late Secretary of State for War; and why the instructions of the 23rd March given to General Gough for the information of his officers were in waiting and initialled by the late Secretary of State for War, Sir John French, and Sir Spencer Ewart?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIn reply to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the speech of my right hon. Friend on 25th March. As regards the second part, a written reply was given to General Gough in answer to his written minute.
§ Mr. GEORGE FABERasked the Prime Minister why Sir A. Paget gave orders to the generals at the conference on the morning of the 20th March that no notes were to be taken at the meeting; and whether he gave similar orders at the conference of the afternoon of the same day?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have no information as regards either of the branches of this question.
§ Mr. GEORGE FABERasked the Prime Minister whether Sir A. Paget had or kept any notes of his remarks at either of the conferences; if not, whether he prepared his written statement of the 2nd April from memory or from what source; and why that statement gives no details of the second conference?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI believe he kept no notes.
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§ Mr. HAYES FISHERasked the Prime Minister whether Sir Arthur Paget on 18th and 19th March made any request for written instructions; and whether such request was complied with, and, if not, on what grounds?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have no knowledge of any such request.
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERasked the Prime Minister whether Major-General Count Gleichen was in command of the troops in Belfast on 19th March; and on what grounds it was proposed to supersede him in favour of Sir N. Macready?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part it was thought advisable that an officer should be in command who had special experience of civil disturbances.
Captain MORRISON-BELLasked the Secretary of State for War on what duty was Major-General Sir N. Macready ordered to Belfast from the War Office in March last; and what were the written instructions that were given to him?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs regards the first part of the question I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the White Paper. As regards the second part to the replies which I gave on the 2nd and 6th instant.
§ Captain TRYONasked the Secretary of State for War whether General Paget stated at a conference with his officers, of which no account is given in the White Paper, that the Government were making one move, which he was not at liberty to disclose, but which might cause an immediate rising in Ulster?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe moves contemplated by the Government are fully enumerated in the White Paper.
Mr. F. HALL (Dulwich)asked the Secretary of State for War if any communication, direct or indirect, passed between any Member of the Government and Colonel J. G. Hogg between the time when Sir A. Paget telegraphed to the late Secretary of State for War to the effect 1366W that the colonel of the 4th Hussars was implicated in the steps taken by the officers of the 3rd Cavalry Brigade in regard to the movement of troops on Ulster and the time when Sir A. Paget telegraphed that Colonel Hogg had withdrawn his resignation; and whether Colonel Hogg had any intimation, official or unofficial, of the modification of the Government's plans which was not communicated to the colonels of the 5th and 16th Lancers and other officers?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe only communication, as far as I am aware, between Colonel Hogg and any Member of the Government is the private telegram which the First Lord of the Admiralty read to the House on the 21st instant. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.
Mr. F. HALL (Dulwich)asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether application was made to the Great Northern Railway of Ireland, as instructed by the late Secretary of State for War on 20th March, for facilities for the transport of troops to Ulster; if such application was made and refused; and what were the legal questions which Sir Arthur Paget was informed might arise out of such application?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs regards the first two branches of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to No. XVI. of Part I. of the White Paper. As regards the legal questions involved, the hon. Member can draw his own conclusions.