MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEasked the Secretary for War whether, when General Sir Arthur Paget came over last week for a consultation with him and received orders to effectuate particular movements in Ulster, these orders were given by him himself direct, or was Sir Arthur Paget interviewed by the Army Council; upon what day or days of last week did he come over; and what members if any, of the Army Council were present?
§ Colonel SEELYSir A. Paget was at the War Office on Wednesday, 18th March, and on Thursday, the 19th. Various consultations were held at which the Chief of the Imperial General Staff and the Adjutant-General were present.
§ Mr. WALTER GUINNESSasked whether the General Officer Commanding the forces in Ireland has been reprimanded for leading officers under his command to believe that they were to be used in active operations against Ulster?
§ Colonel SEELYNo, Sir.
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERasked the Secretary for War whether the new conditions as to war service involving the disappearance of officers according to their domicile have yet been published in any Army orders; and whether the domicile of every officer serving in Ireland has been or will be shortly ascertained?
§ Colonel SEELYNo, Sir.
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERalso asked whether an order was issued to the officers at the Curragh to the effect that they would be given twenty-four hours in which to decide whether they would be prepared to proceed to Ulster; whether it 565W was intimated to them that if they refused they would be dismissed from the Army; And whether this order was issued with the knowledge and approval of the members of the Army Council?
§ Colonel SEELYI do not think that I can usefully add anything to the statement which I made yesterday.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Secretary for War why the Suffolk Regiment, now stationed at the Curragh, were confined to barracks on Saturday and Sunday last; whether they received orders to prepare everything necessary to enable them to leave for active operations against Ulster without delay; whether any special trains were ordered to take this regiment from the Curragh and who issued the order; and why these trains were countermanded at the last moment and by whom?
§ Colonel SEELYThere is no information in the War Office on this matter.
§ Mr. WALTER GUINNESSasked the Secretary for War whether it was conveyed to him that certain, and, if so, how many officers employed at the War Office intended to resign their commissions in certain contingencies connected with the Army in Ireland; and if he can say what those contingencies were?
§ Colonel SEELYI have no information as to hypothetical resignations.
§ Mr. W. GUINNESSalso asked the Secretary for War whether non-commissioned officers and men will be allowed an opportunity of being dismissed the Service, as in the case of commissioned officers, in the event of their not being prepared to undertake active operations against Ulster?
§ Colonel SEELYI cannot undertake to answer hypothetical questions.
§ Mr. W. GUINNESSnext asked whether any arrangements or preparations have been made during the present month in connection with the movement of any hospital or ambulance units into Ulster?
§ Colonel SEELYNo movements of hospital or ambulance units have been reported to the War Office.
§ Mr. W. GUINNESSfurther asked whether Major-General Macredy, director of personal service at the War Office, has 566W examined any officers stationed in Ulster as to their readiness to carry out military operations in that province; and, if so, with what result?
§ Colonel SEELYNo, Sir.
§ Mr. AMERYasked whether any order or intimation was conveyed to the Connaught Rangers or to the Leinster Regiment to hold themselves in readiness to go to Ulster; and, if so, whether such order has since been countermanded?
§ Colonel SEELYThere is no information in the War Office to enable me to reply to this question. All these matters were left to the General Officer Commanding in Chief, who had full authority to take such precautionary measures as were necessary.
§ Mr. WALTER GUINNESSasked the Secretary for War what steps he is taking to make applicable to non-commissioned officers and men the exemption from war service promised to commissioned officers who may be domiciled within the area of operations?
§ Colonel SEELYI would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer which I gave in reply to the question put to the Prime Minister to-day on this subject.
§ Mr. BARNSTONasked what was the extra cost entailed by the dispatch of troops to Ulster?
§ Colonel SEELYAs I stated yesterday, in reply to the hon. Member for the Southport Division, it is not possible at present to state what is the extra cost involved.
§ Mr. AMERYasked whether on any previous occasions officers or men of the Regular Army or Royal Irish Constabulary domiciled in Ulster have been employed in maintaining order in that province; and whether on any such occasions they have been given the option of disappearing and being reinstated after the operations?
§ Colonel SEELYThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I have no information on the second part.
§ Mr. AMERYalso asked the Secretary of State for War whether the General Commanding the Home District convened his 567W commanding officers on Saturday last and told them to inform their subordinate officers that no resignations would be accepted; when General Lloyd was instructed to do so; and what precise instructions were given to him?
§ Colonel SEELYI have no information as to what Major-General Sir Francis Lloyd said on the occasion referred to.
§ Mr. WILLIAM YOUNGasked the Secretary for War whether, in view of the growing feeling of unrest created throughout the country by recent occurrences in connection with the Army in Ireland, he will advise the immediate setting up of a Departmental Committee to inquire into the whole question of the officering of the Army, and to report on possible schemes by which deserving and capable men of all classes may have equal opportunities of obtaining commissioned rank in His Majesty's land forces?
§ Colonel SEELYThe question referred to in the latter part of the question has been considered quite recently and new Regulations as regards promotions from the ranks were issued on 1st January. The setting up of a new Committee is not contemplated.
§ Mr. WILLIAM YOUNGalso asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state what steps are laid down by War Office Regulations to be taken for dealing with a private soldier or non-commissioned officer who desires or chooses to resign rather than accompany his unit or regiment on duty in an area where he is called upon to use arms against or even shoot down former fellow-workers of his engaged in an industrial dispute?
§ Colonel SEELYThe Regulations do not contemplate the case of a private soldier being required to shoot down men because they are engaged in an industrial dispute.