§ Mr. CAIRNSasked the Chief Secretary if it is his intention to release from prison R. Purcel, James Connolly, and Gilbert Barrington as political prisoners; and why they have not been released under the Anglo-Irish Free State Treaty and the general amnesty arising out of the aforesaid Anglo-Irish Treaty?
§ Mr. SHORTTI have been asked to reply to this question. The three men referred to were convicted of offences committed in Great Britain after, not before, the truce. The amnesty which was granted to prisoners in custody for offences committed prior to the truce from Irish political motives does not therefore apply to these men, and I see no ground for remitting the sentences of any of them.