§ Mr. NEWBOLDasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in the case of the trial and execution of three non-commissioned officers in France in December, 1916, dealt with in the article by Mr. Rochester, he will say whether the Army Council held any formal investigation into the matter; whether he is aware that the French Cour de Cassation has continually reviewed sentences of death after they have been carried out and has quashed them, in many cases directing the officers concerned 1639W to be proceeded against according to the French military code; Whether he is aware of the grave irregularities that have transpired in the conduct of this trial; and whether, in view of the disquietude aroused by the publication of the circumstances of this case, he will set up an inquiry, under the powers of the Tribunals of Inquiry Act, 1921, to investigate the circumstances connected with the execution of these three noncommissioned officers?
Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, I am generally aware that the French authorities have on occasion quashed death sentences after execution, but I do not know to what extent this has been done. The judicial system in the French Army is quite different from that in our own, but I am not aware that it is more favourable to prisoners accused or found guilty of capital offences. As regards the remainder of the question, I am not aware that any irregularities have transpired in the conduct of the trial referred to, and I do not think that any case has been made out for the inquiry suggested.