§ Sir J. SIMONasked the Home Secretary whether, before handing over the individuals recently arrested by his order under the Restoration of Order in Ireland Regulations to the Free State Government, he exacted or received any undertaking from the Free State Government limiting the length of the internment of these individuals in Ireland?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANNo, Sir, but it is clearly understood between His Majesty's Government and the Government of the Irish Free State that if, as the result of any recommendation of the Advisory Committee, an order of internment is revoked, the person interned thereunder will be at once released.
Captain BENNasked the Home Secretary whether the men and women recently deported to Ireland have the right to appear before the Advisory Committee; whether there is any limit to the period of their internment; and whether, if brought to trial, their cases will be heard in Great Britain or the Free State?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANAs regards the first part of the question, I would refer to my reply to the hon. Member for Aberavon on the 15th instant, and, as regards the second part, to my reply of this afternoon to the right hon. and learned Member for the Spen Valley (Sir J. Simon). If a criminal charge is brought against any interned person, the place of trial will depend upon the nature of the offence and the place where it was committed.
§ Mr. SAKLATVALAasked the Home Secretary whether, in sanctioning the deportation of 110 persons from here to Ireland, he had taken into consideration 2147W a precedent of any case of sending prisoners from areas where martial law does not exist to areas where martial law is in operation; and, if so, were such decisions in favour of such action being considered constitutional?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANYes, Sir. This consideration was before me, and I would point out that it was present also in the case of Brady, which was referred to by the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Member for Spen Valley in the Debate last Monday. The point, however, is not material, for, as I have already explained, it had been arranged with the Free State Government before these persons were sent to Ireland that no action other than internment would be taken without the agreement of His Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. SAKLATVALAasked the Home Secretary if he is aware that Miss Barrett and other deportees were asked in Mount-joy prison to sign pledges not to work in future for the republican party in Great Britain; and, in view of his statement that the prisoners were sent over merely for internment, was he consulted by the Free State authorities before they attempted to exact such pledges from the internees; is he aware that in a letter sent by Eileen Cullinan to her mother all portions were cut out excepting three lines at the commencement and three lines at the end; was this censorship exercised by the Home Office with knowledge of the offending paragraphs or was it done by the Irish Free State; and will he see that the rights of the interned persons to communicate with their families and friends are protected?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI am informed by the Free State Government that no deportees have been asked to sign pledges, as stated in the question, not to work in future for the Republican party in Great Britain; and that the terms of the undertaking which a number of prisoners in Ireland have given, and which it would be open to any internee to give, are as follow
I promise that I will not use arms against the Parliament elected by the Irish people or Government of the time being responsible to that Parliament, and that I will not support in any way any such action, nor will I interfere with the property or the persons of others.The letter referred to was censored by the Free State authorities as mentioned. Internees are allowed to communicate 2148W with their relatives and friends subject to censorship, and I have no reason to think that they are being unduly restricted in this respect.
§ Mr. DUNNICOasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Mr. Joseph King, of 9, Clayton Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne, is among the deportees sent to Ireland, and that this gentleman is considered an important witness in a compensation case to be shortly before the Courts; whether facilities will be given to Mr. King whereby he may appear as a witness; and what provision is being made whereby other interned persons required as witnesses in British Courts may appear?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI have no knowledge of the case referred to; but I shall be prepared to consider, in consultation with the Free State Government, any application of the kind referred to that may be made to me on behalf of this or any other interned person.
§ Mr. DUNNICOasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that by arresting and deporting to Ireland Mr. M'Meoney, of 50, Townmead Road, Fulham, he has rendered two motherless children, Eileen, aged 17, and Liam, aged 14, without any protecting guardian or means of livelihood; whether, in view of their condition, he proposes to make immediate provision for the care and maintenance of these children; and what provision has been made for Mrs. Mary A. Cullinan, of 8, Sterndale Road, W.14, a widow under medical treatment, whose daughter Eileen, her sole support, has been deported to Ireland?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANAs regards the persons mentioned in the question I have obtained the following information: Martin McInerney, not McMeoney, was in receipt of £2 a week from the Irish National Aid and Central Distress Fund. Mrs. Cullinan, who has another daughter, is the occupier of a house which she lets out as lodgings. She is believed to have at present five lodgers.