PRIME MINISTER AND THE IRISH CONSPIRACY
NO REPRISALS INQUIRY.
The Prime Minister in the House of Commons yesterday again declined to order an inquiry into the question of reprisals in Ireland. Mr. Lloyd George said the subject had been fully discussed by members on three occasions, and the House had expressed its opinion on the evidence from both sides. His own conviction was that the country was perfectly satisfied that they were breaking up the murder conspiracy, and inquiries led him to believe that the persons who were suffering in Ireland were men engaged in that conspiracy. The answers of the Chief Secretary to a number of questions gave the unusually good news of no murders of policemen during the week-end. Sir Hamar Greenwood was also able to inform the House on a police report that in Kerry, where after a long period of comparative quiet there had been several attacks on Crown forces during the past fortnight, the Sinn Feiners lost six killed in a fight near Tralee on Friday.
Lord H. Cecil asked the Prime Minister whether the Government would consent, in respect to reprisals in Ireland, to an inquiry limited to the question, whether the policemen and soldiers who had committed acts of violence in reprisal for crime in Ireland had acted in any degree under the authority of superiors.
Mr. Lloyd George: I cannot add anything to previous answers on this subject. The question has been very fully discussed on three separate occasions in the House; and it would be very difficult by question and answer to give any further answer. Lord H. Cecil: Has my right hon. friend in mind that accusations have been freely made, and are very widely believed, that members of the Government and commanders of the forces in Ireland have given authorisation for acts of violence, which no one can defend. Is it not very desirable to clear that up by some form of impartial inquiry?
Mr. Lloyd George: These are the very questions that have been discussed on three separate occasions. I have never heard a topic so fully discussed in so short a period.
Mr. Clynes (Lab., Platting): Is the right hon. gentleman aware that the questions and answers to which he refers are in the fullest conflict on points of fact, and that it is only by means of inquiry that the truth can be reached?
Mr. Lloyd George: I do not quite know what my hon. friend means, except that the Sinn Fein story does not quite coincide – (cries of “Oh, oh!” and cheers) – with the reports which we get from the Royal Irish Constabulary. All that has been discussed quite fully, and the House has expressed its opinion on the evidence from both sides.
Mr. Devlin (Nat. Falls): Is the right hon. gentleman aware that a number of leading newspapers and reviews in England have deliberately declared that the Government is responsible for these reprisals; that the Government has been definitely charged with having organised them; and, in view of the universal indignation expressed by every paper of every party yesterday, will he appoint some impartial committee of inquiry, even an English Commission?
Mr. Lloyd George: I do not accept my hon. friend’s statement. (Hear, hear.) There are newspapers that have criticised this Government, as there are newspapers that would criticise any Government. But there is a vast difference between that and saying there is universal agreement. My own conviction is that the country is perfectly satisfied that we are breaking up this murder conspiracy. (Cheers.)
Sir D. Maclean (L., Peebles): Will the right hon. gentleman not be influenced by the fact that, notwithstanding frequent debates in this House, there have been within the last three days fresh outbreaks in Ireland?
Mr. Moles (C.U., Ormeau): As a result of the debates!
Sir D. Maclean: Is the right hon. gentleman aware that these outbreaks have been coupled with definite statements in the Press by persons of high authority, that they are linked up with official sanction?