asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is now able to inform the House whether Japan has agreed to prohibit enemy trading in China; and will he say how many of the Allies are taking action similar, in this respect, to that of Great Britain?

With a view to co-operating with His Majesty's Government the Japanese Government have issued Orders to their shipping lines prohibiting the carriage of merchandise handled by or destined for enemy subjects in China as from the 26th instant, the date on which the British Proclamation of the 25th June comes into force. This action on the part of the Japanese Government is much appreciated by His Majesty's Government. As regards the second part of the question, both France and Russia some time ago adopted measures which have the effect of prohibiting all trading with enemy subjects in China. I am, however, unaware as to what prohibitions, if any, have been imposed by the remaining Allied Powers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has seen the circular recently issued by the Odessa branch of the Russo-British Chamber of Commerce calling attention to the importance of the development of trade between Russia and Great Britain; and, if so, whether his Department is co-operating with the said chamber in respect of the objects set out in the said circular?

I have seen the circular to which my hon. Friend refers. The Board of Trade are prepared, as they have always been to co-operate so far as practicable with any responsible organisation formed for the development of Anglo-Russian commercial relations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the London County Council or other public bodies have made any provision for acquiring stocks of household coal for sale during the winter to traders engaged in supplying small consumers; and whether he can state particulars of any action taken to carry out the recommendation contained in paragraph 38 of the Report of the Departmental Committee on Retail Coal Prices?

The recommendation of the Retail Coal Prices Committee with regard to the accumulation of a public stock of coal in London was brought to the notice of the London County Council, but they did not consider the proposal a practicable one. Coal has recently been coming in to London in considerable quantities, and merchants' stocks of household coal at the end of June were somewhat larger than a year ago.

Has the recommendation been carried out by any local body with regard to the coming winter?

There are great difficulties with regard to that.

asked the Secretary of State for India what are the Regulations regarding the admission of Eurasians or East Indians (now called Anglo-Indians) into Indian Volunteer Corps; and whether such persons, when Christians, are eligible in cases in which Hindus and Mahomedans are ineligible?

Under the Regulations only Europeans, or persons of European descent, or naturalised British subjects, are eligible for admission to Indian Volunteer Corps, and their enrolment rests with the officer commanding the corps. There is no religious qualification or disqualification.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether action will be taken by the Government of India on the memorials received from chambers of commerce and European associations in time to allow the Indian empire to benefit by the patriotic feeling the War has elicited in actual and potential British Volunteers in India, who are anxious that the Force should be given a definite place in the Indian military organisation?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on the 5th inst. to my hon. Friend the Member for the Brentford Division of Middlesex. The Government of India have the memorial of the Bengal Chamber of Commerce suggesting the appointment of a Commission of Inquiry under their consideration.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that arrangements are now being made for football matches during the forthcoming season; and whether he is prepared to give timely intimation of the views of the Government to those who arrange such matters, with the view of preventing professional football matches and their detrimental consequences under present circumstances?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. Although the measures which were taken last year did not realise all that was hoped, in the main the results obtained were satisfactory, and I should like it to be known that the Government look with confidence to those responsible in this matter to restrict the programme of football matches in accordance with the general feeling of the public.

Will it not be possible to convey to those responsible an intimation of the feeling of the Government?

The hon. Gentleman will remember that last year I had repeated conferences with the Football Association; but if the hon. Member so desires, I will undertake to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has official or other information to the effect that the mutiny at Singapore in February when forty person were murdered was the outcome of German intrigue; if he is aware that white opinion in the Colony holds the Government of Singapore to be largely responsible for the seriousness of the outbreak through neglect of warnings received before the event and irresolution in dealing with it; that no confidence is felt in the Commission of three local officials appointed by the military authority in the Colony to inquire into the circumstances; and whether, in view of the attempts that have been made to conceal the gravity of the crisis that occurred and of the suspicions locally entertained as to the loyalty of one or more persons holding authority in the Colony, ho will appoint a Commission to go out from England with full powers from the Imperial Government to investigate and report upon the whole case.

The information which I have received does not indicate that German intrigue was responsible for the riot, but this question cannot be completely answered until the report of the Court of Inquiry is received. I have no information as to the second or third parts of the question, but I may mention that the Commission now consist of

• Brigadier-General F. A. Hoghton (President).
• Lieutenant - Colonel J. D. Ferguson, R.A.M.C.
• Captain A. R. Chancellor, Inspector-General of Police.

I am not aware that the loyalty of any persons holding authority in the Colony has been suspected. Until the report of the Court of Inquiry has been received and considered, it does not appear necessary to consider the possibility of a further inquiry.

asked (1) whether Father Stosch, principal of the German Lutheran mission at Ranchi and member of the local district board, has recently been invited to serve for a further term of three years upon that body; whether 110 German, of whom fifty are male missionaries, are still at large in the Chota Nagpur district, and 442 alien missionaries throughout India, of whom most are Germans; if so, why such lenient treatment has been given to alien enemies in the present crisis; and (2) what action has been taken upon the memorial presented by the European Association to the Government of India regarding the liberty accorded to German firms, missionaries, and others in India, asking whether German firms in liquidation are to be allowed to recommence trading after the War, complaining of the licence given to German missionaries, representing that Germans who have become naturalised British subjects have unusual opportunities of making mischief and should be segregated and interned, and that the conditions of internment should be made more stringent?

Father Stosch has not been reappointed to the local district board. I ought perhaps to say that he received in the ordinary course a form asking whether he would be willing to accept the appointment, and he replied in the affirmative, but it was not thought desirable to reappoint him. On the general question of the treatment of alien enemies in India I have just received a telegraphic report from the Government of India, who inform me that they consider that the time has come to take greater precautions against abuse of the leniency they have hitherto shown. They will probably proceed on the same lines as are now followed in this country.

asked the Home Secretary how many alien enemies and how many persons of hostile origin or association have been interned or repatriated during the past week; and how many alien enemies now remain unin-terned in the United Kingdom?

I have given the hon. Member figures on this matter on the 5th and on the 12th. I do not think I should be justified in collecting the figures afresh every week. The frequent preparation of statistics takes up time which ought to be available for carrying out the policy of internment and repatriation.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be willing to make a statement on the subject before the House adjourns?

Yes, with pleasure.

asked how many aliens are still at large in prohibited areas?

I presume the hon. Member is referring to alien enemies. I stated the numbers as they stood on the 10th June. Until the measures now being pressed forward for the internment or repatriation of alien enemies are complete, I do not think I should be justified in taking up the time of the police by asking for a fresh count. I will get the figures before the House rises.

asked the Home Secretary whether the undertaking of the late Government, that the Press Censorship would not be used to prevent criticism of the Government or of its policy, holds good under the present administration and throughout the United Kingdom; and, if so, how he accounts for the fact that such criticism is prevented throughout the United Kingdom, except London, where it is allowed in newspapers circulating throughout the United Kingdom?

The Press Bureau does not discriminate between London newspapers and newspapers in other parts of the country.

May I ask how it is that the papers themselves are allowed to discriminate so pointedly?

It may be that papers in one part of the country think a matter of more interest than those in another part do.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that a man of hostile origin or association, called Reuter, resides at Normannia, Byfleet Road, Weybridge, overlooking the aerodrome at Brooklands; and that he and his wife openly express sympathy with the enemy and are believed to carry on an active correspondence by post with the Continent; and if he will say what course he intends to pursue as regards the internment or otherwise of these people?

The person named, though of German extraction, is a native of Finland and possessed Russian nationality when he obtained British naturalisation in 1904. I am not aware of the matters alleged in the second part of the question and I can obtain no confirmation of them. If the hon. Member will give me the information on which his question is based, I will make further inquiry.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Government have come to any agreement with the London and local authorities in connection with paying compensation to British tradespeople whose property was destroyed during the alien riots in last May?

Compensation for damage by riot is payable, under the Riot (Damages) Act, by the local police authority. Any claims made are now being dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can see his way to grant separation allowances to the wives of chief warrant officers, in view of the fact that these wives belong to the same class as warrant officers' wives who have received the concession?

These officers hold commissions and rank with second lieutenants in the Army. Separation allowance is not an allowance applicable to commissioned officers, and I cannot hold out hope of any further extension of the concession.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if his attention has been drawn to the case of the widow and six children (four totally dependent) of the late Driver J. Woolley, 91,907, Royal Field Artillery, whose death was reported on the 22nd of February last, and whose widow has been informed that as the accident which led to her husband's death was not sustained in the performance of military duty she is not eligible for a pension from Army funds; whether he is aware that it has been claimed that the deceased soldier met his death when crossing a bridge with his gun; whether he is aware that Mrs. Woolley has been informed that the separation allowance and allotment of pay will continue to be paid temporarily; and whether he will consider the possibility of granting his widow a permanent allowance?

I am not aware that it has been claimed that this man met his death when crossing a bridge with his gun. The facts as officially reported show clearly that he was not on duty at the time of his death and was accidentally drowned. Under these circumstances his widow is not entitled to a pension from Army funds.

Is it proposed to continue the allowance?

I am not aware, but if my hon. Friend will put down another question to the Financial Secretary no doubt he will get an answer.

The letter was sent on the 6th of this month, and there was no reply: hence the question on the Paper. Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiry?

I was not aware of that fact. I hope my hon. Friend will forgive the delay.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that the London District Order, No. 115, stating that non-commissioned officers will draw pay according to their rank from and including 29th May, 1915, has been so interpreted by the command paymaster of the London District that it does not affect the Territorial Force, and that the noncommissioned officers of that Force will cease to draw the pay of their appointment from 29th May, 1915; why was the differentiation made; is he aware that this interpretation is causing dissatisfaction among the non-commissioned officers of the Territorial Force, many of whom have been at the front, returned home wounded, and are now engaged in recruiting work; and whether, having regard to these facts, steps will be taken to annul the interpretation given and restore the rate of pay that obtained prior to the issue of such interpretation?

I think my hon. Friend must have inadvertently misquoted the number of the London District Order. Perhaps he would communicate with me on the subject.

Has the hon. Gentleman any particulars regarding the cases of lance-corporals and lance-sergeants in the Territorial Force?

No, Sir, I have no particulars.

asked the reasons for non-payment of the usual dependant's allowance to Mrs. Catherine Fewer, Aglish, Carrigeen, county Kilkenny, in respect of her son, Gunner Patrick Fewer, No. 75,932, of the 24th Battery Royal Field Artillery, who has been on active service since September last?

Mrs. Fewer was found not to have been dependent on her son before the outbreak of war, he being then already a soldier, and therefore was not entitled to any allowance from Government.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he can now state when the new scale of pensions to widows of officers will be issued?

I hope that the Select Committee will report on this at a very early date.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give no date at all?

No, Sir, I am not a member of the Select Committee.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the Army Order of 31st May to the effect that soldiers must make application for separation allowances within one calendar month of enlistment is now in force; whether he is aware that the shortness of the notice given is resulting in many soldiers, being unaware of the order before it came into operation; and whether, in view of the varying circumstances connected with the families of soldiers, he will either have the order withdrawn or extend the period wherein a soldier may make application?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on this subject to the hon. Member for the Leigh Division of Lancashire on the 24th June last, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that the chargemen in His Majesty's dockyards have been working at high pressure for the last twelve months, he can see his way to allow them to take their nine days' leave as opportunity occurs during the next two months?

The dockyard officers will deal with applications for leave with every consideration, subject to the requirements of the Service, but it is not proposed to give them precise directions as to the manner in which the charge-men shall be permitted to take the annual leave which was conceded to them in 1912. General instructions on the subject have been issued.

asked whether the Inventions Committee, to be presided over by Lord Fisher, has yet been constituted; and, if so, what is its composition and where it will be housed?

My hon. Friend has no doubt seen the full announcement made in the Press this morning. If he so desires, I will circulate it with the Votes.

asked whether arrangements have been made for the establishment of an inventions committee on the same lines as that constituted by the Admiralty; and, if not, will he say what alternative plans he is adopting or proposing?

I would refer my hon. Friend to an answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Munitions to a question put to him on this subject on the 8th instant by the hon. Member for West Clare, and to an answer which I gave myself on the 23rd June to the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydvil. Measures are being concerted with the Ministry with a view to co-ordinating all the work on inventions so far as they relate to supplies for the Army.

asked whether it is proposed to transfer the Anti-Aircraft (London) Corps from the Admiralty to the War Office; if so, what are the reasons for this change; and whether public expense will be involved by a change of the uniforms of the corps or otherwise?

The question is under consideration, but no final decision has yet been come to in the matter.

If carried through, will the point in the last part of the question be duly considered with a view to economy?

We shall certainly take due care of economy.

asked the Post master-General under what power he exempts from the necessity of registration as a newspaper, and has allowed to pass through the post during the last nine months as a newspaper, unregistered, the weekly recruiting publication, purporting to be a newspaper, printed by the "Free man's Journal," Dublin, over a false imprint; and, having regard to the matter contained in this publication and to the facility non-registration affords for evading the consequences, will he say who is responsible for that publication?

I am not aware that any such publication has been allowed to pass through the post at the newspaper rate or to receive telegrams at the Press rates. In order to take advantage of those rates any publication must be registered under the Post Office Act of 1908. There is no general obligation in the way of registration so far as the Post Office is concerned.

Will the Post Office allow a paper purporting to be a newspaper to pass through the post for nine months unregistered?

Any newspaper may pass through the post unregistered, but if it desires to have the benefit of the special newspaper rate it must be registered.

I have asked nothing whatever about the rate; what I have asked is, Who is responsible for this publication? Will the right hon. Gentleman give that information, and also say whether he requires me to keep on advertising this paper in the House of Commons by naming it?

Not at all. I have no idea whatever to what publication the hon. Gentleman is referring, and unless he informs me in the House, or by correspondence, I cannot make inquiries.

Will the Postmaster-General take care not to inquire?

Yes, Sir, if the hon. Member so desires.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the British postal service is being used as the. medium for circulating to Members of Parliament and others in this country the publications issued from the office in New York of the paper called the "Fatherland," a press controlled by Germans resident in the United States and devoted to the adovcacy of the German cause; whether his attention has been called to one of such publications, entitled "England on the Witness Stand," containing a series of articles by British writers intended to prejudice this country and advocate the cause of Germany; and whether he will take steps to confiscate and destroy this and similar publications, or adopt such other action which shall effectively prevent the Post Office from participating in the distribution of this and similar seditious publications?

I am making inquiries and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.

In view of the interesting information in these articles, showing the weakness of the German position, will the right hon. Gentleman see that we get these papers for use in this country?

In view of the fact that this publication is well printed and extravagantly got up, and therefore wastes the resources of the enemy, will it be allowed to go on?

May I hope that the right hon. Gentleman will not be drawn off the track by these supplementary questions?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a minimum price is to be fixed for the new Loan?

No minimum price has been fixed.

"Has been," or "will be"?

No minimum price has been fixed. It is impossible to say what will be the case in the future. There is no present minimum price.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a small investor in War Loan who subsequently desires to secure cash for his holding will receive the market value of such holding within a reasonable time from the Post Office in cash; whether there is any limit to the amount he can have cashed in this way; and whether he can say how many days' notice requires to be given?

War Loan registered at the Post Office may be sold through the Post Office, at the market price of the day. The maximum amount which can be so registered is at present £200, stock applied for in excess of that amount being registered at the Bank of England. When the register has been completed the sales will be carried through, as a rule, within four days, but in view of the very large number of subscriptions I fear that there will be some delay during the first few months.

In the event of the person holding the maximum amount, all the circumstances being equal, will he get cash for the £200?

Oh, yes; he will be able to sell the whole £200. There may be a delay of a day or two owing to the large amount to be dealt with.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the notices posted in certain savings banks advising their clients not to take War Loan; and whether he proposes to take any action in such cases?

I will make inquiries if my hon. Friend will give me further particulars in regard to the notices referred to which have not hitherto been brought to my attention. I have no desire to discourage depositors in Government savings banks from withdrawing money for the purposes of subscribing to the War Loan, but I may point out that such action does not increase the amounts at the disposal of the State unless it leads, as I hope it will, to new savings being effected and deposited.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reconsider the subject of the profits made by agents and go-betweens on Government contracts and the question of making the contractors themselves the agents of the Government for the collection of Income Tax on such profits at least for the period of the War?

As I stated in reply to the hon. Member's question of the 29th June, Income Tax will be collected in the ordinary course, and I am unable to adopt his suggestion.

Does the Chancellor of the Exchequer think that these profits will be included by the people who get them in their next return? I do not know.

I hope so.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action the Government are taking with regard to contractors to the Government who are losing heavily on contracts made prior to the War owing to the increased cost; and whether similar losses to contractors to other public bodies have been considered by the Government with a view to any emergency legislation?

The answer to the first part of the question is that each case is being dealt with on its merits: the answer to the second part is in the negative.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in many cases in connection with the municipalities, workhouses, and asylums contractors have been held to their contracts, obviously at a greatly increased cost; and can he do anything to approach the municipalities and those who take the same view as the Government?

That will be a question for the President of the Local Government Board. I understand, however, that everything possible is being done in the direction indicated.

When these matters are considered, will the right hon. Gentleman see that if any concessions are made to contractors that consideration is given to the desirability of these firms increasing the wages of their men to meet the increased high cost of living?

No, Sir, it is not a question of the increase of wages; it is a question of the increase of the cost of the material.

If any concessions are made to the firms in question in consequence of the high cost of raw material, by the same method of reasoning ought not the Chancellor of the Exchequer see that the wages are increased?

No, Sir, because if wages are increased prices will become higher still. There is no question that the wages are too low, but the difficulty has arisen owing to raw materials being too expensive.

Is it not a fact that many of the asylum authorities in this country have made concessions to these contractors?

Yes, Sir; I believe that to be the case.

asked the Prime Minister whether Members of the Cabinet at home and British censors abroad are subject to the regulations and penalties imposed by the Official Secrets Act?

The answer in each case is in the affirmative.

asked the Prime Minister whether representations have been received by him from the Anti-Socialist Union of the Churches calling his attention to the propaganda of an organisation calling itself the Union of Democratic Control, and to the carrying on of a campaign against recruiting for His Majesty's Forces and also for the purpose of stopping the War and compelling peace to be concluded upon terms favourable to the enemy belligerents; whether he is aware that such union and kindred organisations, including the Independent Labour Party, are holding over 200 meetings weekly with this object and issuing quantities of literature in which the attitude of the late and present Governments, as also the true facts relating to the origin of the War, are misrepresented in order to mislead and dupe the public; whether he will cause prompt and effective measures to be taken to put an end to this agitation and to prosecute those who take part in it; has he any information as to who is financing the movement; whether there is any reason to believe that the expenses of this organisation are being defrayed by Germany; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made into these matters?

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers that question, may I ask whether he is aware that the Union of Democratic Control have repeatedly repudiated anti-recruiting and stop-the-war propaganda, and have made it known that any subscription from enemy aliens would on no account be accepted?

No, Sir, I am not aware of that. As to the question on the Paper, which the Prime Minister has asked me to answer: The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As to the second part of the question, the avowed object of the Union of Democratic Control is to "bring about such a settlement at the close of the War and such changes of procedure between nations as will lead to a permanent peace instead of to a period of renewed armaments." I am informed that meetings have been held by the union, though I have not been furnished with any reports of such meetings. The union has also distributed literature of the kind mentioned in the question, no doubt with a view to influencing the public. As regards the third paragraph of the question, I must refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answer given by the Prime Minister in reply to a question by the hon. Member for East Nottingham on the 15th July. I have no information as to who is financing the movement, except that subscriptions are paid by members.

Would the right hon. and learned Gentleman in the immediate future take steps to have persons representing the Government attending these meetings for the purpose of reporting them?

If the police can possibly attend them they will. But the hon. and learned Gentleman knows that it is not a very easy thing to know when and where these meetings are being held.

Oh, yes!

If the hon. and learned Gentleman will give me any information he has in his possession I shall be glad to have it.

May I ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman whether he is aware that the Union of Democratic Control have repeatedly denied that they have received any money from German sources, that they are quite willing that the list of subscribers should be examined by any duly authorised person selected by the Government, and that they will only be too glad to have the members of the police force attend their meetings?

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that some members, at any rate, of this union have taken a very active part in the recruiting campaign?

The President of the Board of Education!

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman take steps, if the police, owing to their other duties, cannot attend these meetings, to enlist the services of volunteers whom he can trust to give him reliable reports? These seditious utterances are very frequently made, and there are meetings practically every night.

I did not say that the police had not time to attend the meetings. If the police are aware of the meetings they will no doubt try to obtain information about them. If the hon. Gentleman has reports of meetings such as he refers to, and which I have not, I shall be very glad to consider them.

Is it not a fact that a Member of the Cabinet only resigned from the union on his appointment to an office in the Cabinet?

Before he takes any action will the right hon. and learned Gentleman consult his colleague, the President of the Board of Education, who was a member of this organisation before he joined the Cabinet?

No, Sir.

asked the Prime Minister whether officers of His Majesty's-Forces, retired on half-pay, who have been recalled to serve, are receiving full salary in addition to the half-pay retiring allowance; and is he aware that retired or pensioned postmen who offer their services for re-employment during the War have, in effect, to forfeit their pensions on re-engagement and are not allowed to receive in the aggregate a greater salary than that they were receiving at the time of retirement?

With regard to officers of His Majesty's Forces retired on half-pay and recalled to service, I am informed that half-pay is not given in addition to full pay in any case. The case to officers of His Majesty's Forces retired governed by Section 20 of the Superannuation Act of 1834.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he can now say for what offence Mr. Fawsitt, secretary of the Cork Industrial Development Association, was ordered by the military authorities out of the district in which he worked in that capacity; on what grounds the civil authorities made his business impossible outside that district by a constant accompaniment of police spies; why he has not been accused or tried for anything; whether it is the present practice, when the military authorities expel a man from a particular part of Ireland, for the civil authorities to make his business impossible in the remainder of the country without accusation or trial; under what law this is done; and under what regulation the general who signed the order for Mr. Fawsitt's transportation, in the absence of trial, refused to grant him even an interview?

The person referred to in the question is one of the thirteen mentioned in the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to a question asked by the hon. Member on the 29th ultimo, to which I would refer him for answers to the first and third parts of the question. Such supervision as may be exercised over an individual guilty or suspected of acting in a manner prejudicial to the public safety or the defence of the realm is dictated by the necessity of preventing such action. I am informed that in the present case a lengthy interview was granted to the offender by a representative of the military authorities, and that he had thus every opportunity of making representations in his own behalf.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say under whose instructions this man's business was made impossible in the rest of Ireland, after he had been expelled from his normal sphere?

Does the hon. Gentleman ask me under whose authority?

Yes.

Under the authority of the military authorities.

The military authorities having expelled him from one district, will the right hon. Gentleman say who expelled him from the remainder of Ireland?

I imagine that the same authority who expelled him from one expelled him from the other.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland a question, of which I have given him private notice, namely: Whether he can give any information in reference to the order for deportation given to Mr. Ernest Blythe, at Ennistymon, West Clare, on Monday last, especially the reasons for this action?

The hon. Member should address this question to the Under-Secretary of State for War.

On a point of Order. I gave the Chief Secretary notice of a question on a subject of which this question is a part, and I received a note from the Clerk at the Table saying that you, Sir, said that it could not be put as an urgent question. The point of Order is whether you rule that a question referring to the expulsion from Ireland for their political opinions of men who have not been accused of, or tried for, any offence whatever is not an urgent question?

I read the hon. Member's question, and it seemed to me to be of a general character, and it was not one which I thought was so urgent that it should be put after the time limit for questions. If the hon. Gentleman will put it down on the Paper in the ordinary way he will get an answer.

Yes, but a question regarding the expulsion of men from a country in which they are entitled to live without accusation or trial is, I respectfully submit, urgent.

I did not think that it was when I looked at the nature of the hon. Gentleman's question. It contained a great number of questions, most of which were of a general character.

asked the Chief Secretary the number of officers in the Royal Irish Constabulary force at the time the War began; the number of them who have since volunteered and been accepted for military service; whether their places have been filled up or their districts amalgamated with those adjoining; whether there is still a county inspector in each of the counties of Louth, Carlow, and Wicklow, while one is sufficient for Donegal, a wider area than the other three together; whether there is any reason to think the district inspectors and sub-inspectors, now usually engaged at golf and tennis, could not or would not discharge all the duties if the county inspectors were withdrawn; the number of horses kept by and for this force and the use made of them; and, if those officers and horses are of any military value, whether he will, in the interest of economy and utility, offer them all for the purposes of the War?

The answer to the first part of the question is 233, and to the second part seventeen. The vacancies created by the absence of officers on military duty have not been filled up, and their districts have been amalgamated with those adjoining. There is a county inspector in charge of county Louth, and at the present time one for the two counties of Wicklow and Carlow. I am satisfied that the existing officers are fully employed, and that it would be undesirable in the interests of the public service to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion as to the withdrawal of county inspectors. One hundred and seventeen horses are employed by the constabulary in the performance of various duties. These horses are of military value, but it would not be possible, without incurring other expenditure, to spare any of them from their present work.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the War Office authorises the activities of the Voluntary Recruiting League; whether he is aware that the league has obtained tens of thousands of recruits; and whether the lines on which the league is working have the sanction of the War Office?

The activities of the Voluntary Recruiting League are unauthorised by the War Office. No encouragement was given to the advances made by the league for official recognition. I have no information as to the number of recruits obtained by this body or even that any have been obtained through its instrumentality. No sanction by the War Office has been given to or is in contemplation for the methods of this organisation.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) how many commissions in the Army have been granted to chemical scholars experienced in analytical, sanitary, research, or other similar matters, and, as regards non-commissioned officers and privates in the chemical company attached to the Royal Engineers, what terms of service are offered; and whether any special arrangements are made or attractions offered to secure men of capacity; and (2) as regards men enlisted as non-commissioned officers and privates in the Chemical Corps, established as part of the Royal Engineers, whether any record is made of the man's university degrees, or whether he has passed any other learned examination with or without honours, so that his attainments may be known at the time of selection for commissions?

It is undesirable to state in public what is being done in this matter; but I will send my hon. Friend information privately.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that lieutenants commanding companies at the front are to be promoted to temporary captains and officers commanding battalions to temporary lieutenant-colonels, but that no captains are to be promoted to temporary majors, and considering that the widows of senior captains who may lose their lives will thus be deprived of the higher pensions that they would have been entitled to had their husbands been promoted to the temporary rank of major, he will issue a notification that the widows of captains who would, in the ordinary course have been entitled to promotion to temporary majors shall not be deprived of their majors' pension by reason of their husbands not having been gazetted to that temporary rank?

Promotion to temporary major is given in cases where a captain is left in command of a battalion; but it is not practicable to impute to an officer a rank which he did not hold, in cases where such promotion is not given, in order to pay his widow a higher pension.

Was not the whole object of this temporary promotion to give higher pensions to widows? Are not all these officers specially deserving of every consideration as regards pensions to their widows?

Higher rank, of course, carries higher pay, and the whole object was really to do justice. I really do not think any injustice is done.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that men who volunteered and joined the Royal Army Medical Corps are being subjected to pressure to transfer to fighting regiments; that in some cases the men are paraded and asked to fall out as evidence of their willingness to transfer; and that men who did not fall out have been transferred; and will he say if the members of the Royal Army Medical Corps will in future be left free to remain in the corps for which they volunteered, especially as there are among this corps many members of the Society of Friends, who have conscientious objections to joining the combatant regiments?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether it is intended to continue the practice of compelling men enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps, a non-combatant branch of the Army, to transfer to Infantry or other combatant branches of the Army; and whether the reason for this compulsion is or was that sufficient combatant soldiers could not be obtained under our voluntary system?

I have already explained, in reply to the hon. Member for West Bradford, that men who have conscientious objections to taking life will be specially dealt with. As regards others, I would point out that Parliament has deliberately conferred on the Army Council certain powers, and, as I have also stated, I cannot give any pledge that these powers will not be used, though I can certainly assure my hon. Friend that they will be used with discrimination.

Are we to conclude that if these young men, who have, against their will, been transferred from the Royal Army Medical Corps to a fighting regiment, make a petition, they will be permitted to return to their old regiment?

I think my hon. Friend is rather jumping to conclusions—[Mr. SNOWDEN: "I am not!"]—when making that suggestion. What I have said was that the cases of men so transferred will be considered. I cannot, of course, give a pledge that in all cases they will be reinstated in their original corps, but I hope the great bulk of them may be.

With regard to these men, members of the Society of Friends, who have conscientious objections to taking life, will he consider attaching them to regiments as regimental stretcher-bearers, thereby relieving men trained to the use of arms for other duties, and thus prevent any stigma being placed upon them?

I am obliged to the hon. and gallant Member for the suggestion.

asked whether, in consequence of the War, a large number of Royal Army Medical Corps lieutenant-colonels have been promoted to colonels and similarly a large number of majors have been made lieutenant-colonels; whether all lieutenants have been made captains; and why no captians have also received accelerated promotion?

A number of captains have received accelerated promotion and further promotions will be made when the necessity arises. The names of several have been recently submitted for gazette.

asked the Under-Seretary of State for War whether he is aware that in the case of the London Scottish two gentlemen were recommended last December for permanent commissions by their late commanding officer, Colonel Malcolm, and by their brigadier, General Lowther; whether he is aware that, notwithstanding these recommendations, general headquarters recently stated in writing that there was a ruling of the War Office that no permanent commissions could be granted unless the applicants had been at a public school or had passed through Woolwich or Sandhurst; whether Sir John French has no power to grant a permanent commission to a Territorial; and whether he will take steps to see these disabilities on Territorials are removed?

No, Sir, I am not aware of any of the matters referred to in the first two parts of my hon. Friend's question. Territorial officers are not debarred from receiving permanent commissions. The conditions under which they may normally obtain such commissions are laid down in an Army Order issued last September, of which I will send my hon. Friend a copy. Permanent commissions are also given on the recommendation of the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief for services in the field. My hon. Friend will be relieved to see that there are no disabilities of this kind upon Territorial soldiers which require removal.

If I send my right hon. Friend the letter from general headquarters, will he instruct general headquarters that the order issued by the War Office is incorrect?

I shall be very glad to consider the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that on the hospital ship "Oxfordshire," from Havre to Southampton, on the 19th March, sixty wounded British soldiers, the majority of them from the Black Watch and 6th Gordon Regiments, were taken out of their cots to make room for sixty Germans; that one of the British soldiers subsequently died in Perth; and that, in addition, the Germans were supplied with fresh eggs and bread while the British wounded soldiers had only biscuits; and if in the future he will see that the British soldier when wounded is not subjected to any worse treatment than wounded German prisoners?

My hon. Friend and the House generally will be glad to know that there is no truth in the allegation brought to notice in the question, and I am much obliged to my hon. Friend for giving me this opportunity of correcting a rumour, as unpleasant as it was ill-founded, which had obtained widespread credence.

asked whether a number of German aeroplanes have recently appeared driven by more than one engine, or carrying a gun larger than the ordinary machine gun; and, if so, whether such German aeroplanes have inflicted loss on the aerial forces of our Allies?

I understand that German aeroplanes have been seen which appear to be propelled by more than one engine, but that there is no evidence of German aeroplanes carrying guns larger than machine guns. There is no detailed information regarding the aerial losses of our Allies.

Now that the Germans are hypnotised by the Zeppelin idea, is not this just the opportunity for going ahead and gaining predominance?

I do not understand what the hon. Gentleman refers to.

asked whether the Royal Aircraft Factory took any steps before the War to provide the multiple-engine aeroplane advocated by General Henderson; and, if so, whether any such aeroplane produced by the Royal Aircraft Factory ever flew before the War broke out or has flown since?

Yes, Sir, the preliminary questions of design had been considered before the War. I think it undesirable to give an answer to the second part of the question. The hon. Member is, of course, aware that the types of aeroplanes to be constructed for war are not selected by the Royal Aircraft Factory but by the Director of Military Aeronautics.

asked whether the production of aeroplanes with more than one engine or carrying a gun larger than a machine gun was advocated by General Henderson, Director-General of Military Aeronautics, and by other persons closely connected with aviation in this country, some months before the War; whether such aeroplanes were in the possession of the Royal Flying Corps on active service before the appearance of the multiple-engine German aeroplane recently mentioned by the official eye-witness; and, if not, will he say why not?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second part in the negative. The provision of other types of aeroplane was more urgent, and it is very doubtful whether the two-engined German aeroplanes which have been seen are of the type advocated by Sir David Henderson, and I am informed that they are not necessarily more efficient than single-engined machines.

asked whether the compulsory purchase of hay is made direct from farmers or through dealers; and, if the former, whether any compensation will be made to dealers in consideration of loss of trade?

Compulsory purchase is only resorted to when voluntary methods fail. It is applied to farmers and dealers alike. The second part of the question, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will give the name of the station or stations, or siding or sidings, where railway waggons built by English railway companies for use abroad were sent by the War Office to be inspected; if the practice of sending numbers of waggons long distances to be inspected has ceased; and if waggons are now inspected at the works of the railway companies?

All railway waggons built by English railway companies for use abroad by the War Office have been inspected at the works where they were built.

That is not my question. I want to know where they were sent for inspection?

I am informed that all these waggons were inspected at the works where they were built.

From the commencement of the War?

That is my information.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that several men in the Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment (Territorials), now stationed at Bedford, who are shortly expecting to be sent abroad, have been threatened with compulsory vaccination when on board ship; and whether he will stop this conduct on the part of Army officers?

It is very undesirable that avoidable publicity should be given to statements such as that contained in my hon. Friend's question. I have caused special inquiry to be made, and the battalion staff, the medical officer, and all available company officers have been seen and questioned, and as a result I am informed that the statement that men of this battalion have been threatened with compulsory vaccination on board ship is absolutely unfounded.

Supposing the letters were seen from these men, what would be their position?

I am informed that there really is no truth in the idea that there was any threat to vaccinate these men compulsorily.

Does the right hon. Gentleman really suggest that all this is merely a question of the imagination of the men?

asked how many cases of small-pox have occurred amongst unvaccinated Territorials on active service?

This information is not available.