asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Indian Army Commission will inquire into the grievances of the Indian section of the. Army and of Indians generally with regard to the military policy of the Government; why no Indian is appointed a member of the Commission; whether the omission will be made good before the Commission commence their work; whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware of the strength of the Indian feeling against Sir Michael O'Dwyer for his recent administrative acts in the Punjab; and why he has been appointed a member in the face of such feeling?

Under the terms of reference the Committee is concerned with general questions of military administration and organisation, not with grievances; but I am considering the appointment of an Indian member. I do not see that recent administrative acts in the Punjab have any bearing on this inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for India why no Indian has been appointed on Lord Esher's Committee on the Indian Army?

The appointment of an Indian to the Committee on the Army in India is under consideration.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the question of the taking of evidence from Indian officers now at Hampton Court, as there are some there who could give most valuable evidence before the Committee?

I am obliged for the suggestion, and will communicate it to the Chairman of the Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he can now give the names of the members of the Commission of Inquiry into the recent events in the Punjab; and whether he will undertake to select as chairman of such a Commission a Member of either House of Parliament?

I am in communication with the Government of India as to the inquiry. I hope to be in a position to make a statement very shortly.

Before the House rises for the Recess?

I hope so.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the amount of silver obtainable from abroad by the Indian. Government at the present time is sufficient for her requirements and, if not, will he cause inquiry to be made with a view to ascertaining whether the old rights of the natives to exchange their ornaments against rupees, weight for weight, can in any way be restored so that the Indian Government, in the event of a good export season, may be placed in a position to avail of the large reserves of silver at present on the spot in India in the shape of native ornaments, as was formerly the case?

India could do with more silver. The question of an offer by the Government of India to receive salver from private persons will, I understand, be submitted to the Indian Currency Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the fact that a higher price in sterling is now obtainable in America for sales of gold than is obtain able in this country; whether India is contemplating putting up the price she is prepared to pay for imported gold, and, if so, by how much; and whether the pre sent Currency Committee can be empowered to extend its inquiries to consider the problem of currency as a whole, in stead of approaching the question from a purely local point of view?

I am not fully in-formed as to sales of gold for sterling in America. The second part of the question asks for a statement on a matter on which action, if taken at all, would necessarily be taken without previous announcement. The Chairman of the Indian Currency Committee informs me that, in his opinion and that of his colleagues, so far as it is possible to see at present, the terms of reference as they stand give all the scope necessary for conducting the inquiry and. for making recommendations.

Will the evidence put before the Committee be published in the ordinary course as a Parliamentary Paper?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will give me notice. I think so, but I would rather confirm that by reference.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the introduction of the Patel Hindu Inter caste Marriage Bill in the Indian Legislative Council and its circulation by the Government of India through local Governments for opinion has caused great alarm amongst orthodox Hindus of all classes of society in India, as am interference with their most sacred religious and social usages which it has been the policy of the British Government hitherto never to interfere with; and will he ascertain from the Government of India whether it would be desirable to take action to reassure orthodox Hindu opinion that no interference with religious usage is contemplated by the British Governments?

There would seem to be some misapprehension in the matter. The Government of India is not responsible for the Bill, which was introduced by an elected member of the Legislative Council. The Government are in no way committed to support it, but as it received a certain amount of support from the unofficial members they have taken steps to obtain the full opinion of the Hindu community before the Bill is further proceeded with.

Will the Government of India leave it to the unofficial members of the Indian Legislative to carry through this Bill and not push it on the part of the Government?

The Government of India will have to make up its mind about this Bill if it ever comes to the point at which a Bill comes up for sanction or veto, and for that purpose it is necessary that the Government of India should be fully informed, but it will be treated as private Member's Bill and unofficial.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he can make any statement as to the amelioration of the hospital arrangements for the sick and wounded in the operations on the North-West Frontier of India; whether he is aware that one officers' hospital was so badly equipped that the patients had to use their shaving mugs as drinking cups and tumblers; that no casualty lists were issued for more than a month subsequent to 17th May; and even wives were not officially informed of their husbands' deaths and were left to hear of it from other sources?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the very full statement which I have made in answer to another question of his. The second part is covered by the request which I have already addressed to the Government of India for a report on the hospital referred to. It is not the case, so far as I am aware, that no casualty lists were published for more than a month subsequent to 17th May. Reports of casualties are communicated to the War Office as they are received by the India Office, and are published by the former. Apart from publication, reports of casualties are immediately communicated by the India Office to the next-of-kin in all cases in which the names of the next-of-kin have been registered. If the hon. and gallant Member will inform me what are the cases to which he refers in the last part of his question, I will have inquiry made.

I refer to the publication by the Government of India. I would ask, with regard to the statement in yester day's full statement which is referred to that the scale of equipment of Indian general hospitals has been reviewed and that arrangements for providing additional equipment are in progress, does not that show that the shortage brought to light by the Mesopotamia Commission has not yet been remedied in India and that the pernicious Report of Lord Nicholson and Sir William Meyer which caused Lord Crewe to limit the expenditure on the Indian Army to £19,500,000 is still operating and—

The hon. and gallant Member is making an argumentative speech.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he will permit members of his Council who are not committed to the Government of India Bill as it stands to give evidence before the Joint Select Committee?

I do not know to what members of my Council my hon. and gallant Friend refers, but I have decided some months ago, with the assent of my Council, that any member thereof who wished to give evidence before the Joint Committee on his own behalf should offer to do so. The decision as to what evidence they will admit or require rests with the Committee alone.

As I believe the right hon. Gentleman nominates the members who are to give evidence before the Committee, will he say how many members of his Council he has nominated; and, as the members he has nominated are presumably in conformity with his views, will he nominate an equal number of those oppised to his views?

My hon. and gallant Friend is quite mistaken. I do not nominate the members. [An HON. MEMBER: "Dominate!"] I am quite sure the hon. and gallant Member does not mean that. [Hon. MEMBERS: "He said 'nominate!'"] The Committee know that the members of the Council of India are willing to give any information and any evidence they may be asked to give. I do not know whether any of them have applied to the Committee to give evidence.

Has the right hon. Gentleman given the names of any members of the Council to the President of the Select Committee?

I have given the names of all my Council. In this regard I have said that the Council is free to give evidence, or any member of it, and they would presumably be summoned by the Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for India when the full text of the communications from the Amir of Afghanistan and of the Viceroy's replies will be published; and if he can make any statement as to the progress of the negotiations with the Afghan delegation at the Peace Conference now being carried on at Rawal Pindi, and as to the reasons that prompted the Government of India to grant an armistice instead of imposing their own conditions of peace?

I am anxious to give the House all the information I can, but my hon. and gallant Friend will, I am sure, agree that while negotiations are in progress, at Rawal Pindi, it is not opportune to discuss the matter. I had hoped to lay Papers before now, but I would propose to wait till I can include the result of the negotiations.

May I ask whether the British Government and the Government of India are going to stand the offensive replies given by the Afghan delegates to Sir Hamilton Grant at Rawal Pindi, and will they not put the foot down, and say, "Those are our terms, and we are going to enforce them"?

Does my lion. Friend think that in putting that question, and much more the answering of it, would help successful negotiations?

Yes. I do.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether there are, some 300 of His Majesty's motor launches moored in the River Hamble; if he will state the original cost, and the present expenditure per week for the maintenance, of a motor launch; whether any motor launches have been refitted with a view to sale; if so, at what cost; and can he state the policy of the Government with regard to the future retention or disposal of the motor launches in the River Hamble?

Of the 300 craft referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend, 210 are motor launches. of which 187 are for disposal. The original cost of these motor launches was about £8,000 each.

The present expenditure for the maintenance of one of these vessels is, roughly, £2 a week, including wages, stores, and the cost of three motor launches in commission for attendance on those paid off.

A Committee has been appointed, under the chairmanship of Admiral Sir W. H. May, including representatives of Admiralty Technical Departments and out-Bide experts, to advise on the best method of sale. Up to date 44 of these launches have been sold.

Is there any hope of disposing of the 187 motor launches in a short space of time, and, if not, would not the most economical thing to do be to scrap them?

We are taking steps to offer them for sale. A Committee is at work to that end; failing that, I will place before it my hon. Friend's suggestion.

Will the Committee report shortly?

Can my right hon. Friend say what price?

No. As we have 187 to dispose of, I am sure my hon. Friend will see that it would not be expedient to give an answer to that.

Could they be disposed of by private treaty?

Is he aware that these motor launches were a complete failure in war-time, and, that being the case, will he consider the advisability of disposing of the whole lot?

I said that 187 were for disposal, and I am not prepared to concur that they were a complete, failure. In any case, it is not a wise thing to say when we are trying to sell them, and it is not correct.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state how many temporary officers of the Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve are still mobilised and on active service; and by what date is it expected that their demobilisation will be completed?

2,906 Royal Naval Reserve officers and 676 Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve officers are still mobilised and on active service. It is not possible to forecast with any accuracy the date when the services which necessitate the employment of Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve officers will finally cease, but it is anticipated that their demobilisation will be completed by the end of the year. I may add that up to date 7,540 Royal Naval Reserve officers and 4,586 Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve officers have been demobilised.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is the intention of the Admiralty to retain the Women's Royal Naval Service organisation and incorporate it in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve?

:No alteration has been made in the decision already announced to demobilise the Women's Royal Naval Service on 1st October, 1919. A recent proposal by the Director, Women's Royal Naval Service, to institute a Women's Royal Naval Service Reserve is now being considered.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Admiralty can announce the conditions of service in Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve?

The matter is still under consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if all the Royal yards are engaged in repairing warships; and whether such yards could be utilised for the repair of merchant ships, which are so urgently required for the carrying trade of the country?

The Royal dockyards are at present engaged in refitting and repairing warships and the necessary auxiliary yard craft, with the following exceptions: There is a small amount of new construction in hand, while one British merchant vessel and two vessels belonging to the United States are in hand for repair. Recently arrangements have been made to deal with the refits of many oilers which, up to the present, have been carried out by private firms, and at the present time four of these Teasels are in hand for refit, etc., in addition to a German cable ship, which is being surveyed for return to the Eastern Telegraph Company. My right hon. Friend will realise from what I have just stated that the Royal dockyards can be utilised to a certain extent for the repair of merchant vessels, but I would point out to him that the ruling factor is the supply of the men of the necessary trades, which, at present, is not equal to the demand, either in private firms or in the dockyards themselves.

Why is it that the Royal dockyards are not used for repairing merchant ships when food-carrying ships are far more important than warships at the present time?

I told my right hon. Friend that the Royal dockyards are fully employed at the present time, and they are engaged upon one merchant ship, as I told him. The shortage of shipwrights and of joiners particularly, not only in the Royal Dockyards, but in the private firms as well, is the difficulty. We have not got them.

Are any warships at present being repaired in private yards?

I do not think so, but perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will put a question down.

Then may I ask him whether it would not be possible, in view of the excellent naval situation, to knock off all repairing of warships, except as regards safety from sinking, and put all the workmen, as an emergency after-war measure, on to mercantile repairing?

That question, obviously, affects the whole policy of the British Admiralty and the Government. I have said what that policy was on two previous occasions in this House. The suggestions made by the hon. and gallant Gentleman are, of course, being considered by the Admiralty, but to suggest that no repairs of warships, no necessary repairs, and that none of the ravages of war should be made right now is an impossible suggestion.

:Is it not the case that a large number of these ships that are being repaired in the yards in this country are being detained and hindered by constant strikes and trade union rules?

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty the nature, scope, limitations, and composition of personnel of the Welfare Committee about to be set up by the Admiralty for dealing with questions affecting all naval ratings; is it the intention to invest this Committee with full advisory powers on all matters affecting lower-deck affairs; and is it to be understood that any points advanced by any one section of the various ratings are to be discussed and adjudicated upon by all the lower-deck representatives sitting together as One body?

The information asked for by my hon. Friend is contained in a printed Admiralty Order, dated 24th February, 1919, of which I am sending him a copy. It is intended that the first meeting of the Committee shall take place in October, 1919, and detailed instructions concerning it are now in course of preparation.

Who is then to be in charge of this Department, and to what Department will the Welfare Committee make their representations?

To the Personnel Committee at the centre. The elections, as I have said, will be made in the freest possible manner.

Are we to assume the Committee will elect their own chairman or whether a naval officer will be appointed by the Board of Admiralty?

I cannot answer that question offhand. Perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will put a question on the Paper.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware of the fact that six hospital carriers have been sent to North Russia for service on the River Dwina which cannot ascend that river owing to their excessive draught; whether, in consequence, the arrangements for transporting wounded may be insufficient should heavy casualties be inflicted on our forces; and whether all possible steps are being taken to send out smaller carriers for wounded with all dispatch?

The six hospital carriers referred to are six paddle-steamers which were fitted out temporarily owing to the unavoidable delay on passage from Mesopotamia of vessels of smaller draught. They were the shallowest draught craft available at the time, and, but for the abnomally low river, would have been entirely suitable for the service. I am advised that adequate craft are now available at Archangel, and, should more be required, others are on their way.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty when the order sanctioning the messing of mechanicians in engine-room artificers' messes will be rescinded, seeing that a pledge was given that this order was only for the duration of the War?

The order in question will be cancelled at an early date.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can now state what extra pay and allowances will be paid to the naval officers and ratings sent to the mines in connection with the mining strike; and by whom will the expenses incurred be borne?

These officers and men will receive extra pay at double the rates laid, down in the Regulations whilst employed in connection with the mining strike. The question of incidence of charge is not yet settled.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can say what quantity of coal is at present consumed by the British and Allied Navies; and what was the quantity used by those Navies before the War?

It is regretted that information as to the quantity of coal consumed by the Allied Navies at present and before the War is not available. In the case of our own ships, it is not usual to publish figures. I assume, however, that my hon. Friend's desire is to obtain information as to relative expenditure during the two periods, and I am able to inform him that the British pre-war expenditure will certainly not be exceeded when later in the year salvage and mine-sweeping operations have been completed. My hon. Friend will realise that these necessary services occasion an appreciable temporary increase in expenditure.

asked the Lord Privy Seal in what quantities coal and coke can now be obtained by householders in London; and whether the same Regulations apply to the provinces and to the area known as the Home Counties?

I have been asked to answer this question. A coal merchant in London who has provided the necessary reserve stock of coal for the use of small consumers during the winter months may meet orders on hand by delivering to his customers in rotation a load at a time. A merchant who has not established the necessary reserve may not deliver coal in excess of his customers' current requirements month, by month. The total quantity obtained must not exceed the quantity authorised under the Household Fuel and Lighting Order, 1919. No restriction is imposed upon the quantity of coke which may be obtained. The same restrictions apply to the Home Counties and to the provinces, with the exception of Yorkshire, where, in view of the shortage of coal, more stringent regulations are in force.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the post of Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the; Republic of Mexico is still vacant; and, if so, whether he can state the reason?

The reply to the first part of the question put by my hon. and gallant Friend is in the affirmative. As regards the second, His Majesty's Government are not prepared to consider making this appointment until they are satisfied that there is such an improvement in the attitude of the Mexican Government towards British interests as will justify a recognition of that Government.

Is it a fact that there is already a Charge d'Affaires in Mexico?

Yes, Sir; we have a diplomatic representative.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, with a view to showing the desire of His Majesty's Government to maintain cordial relations with the smaller as well as the larger Spanish-American Republics, he will consider granting the local rank of Chargéd 'Affaires to the Consuls- General in Honduras and Nicaragua and the Consuls in Costa Rica and Salvador?

According to the existing practice, His Majesty's Minister in Guatemala also holds the posts of Minister as well as Consul-General in Nicaragua, Honduras, and Salvador. His Majesty's Minister in Panama in like manner holds the posts of Minister and Consul-General in Costa Rica. The two latter posts are at present in abeyance, as His Majesty's Government have not recognised the present Government of Costa Rica.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, while we have a Minister in Cuba who looks after our interests in San Domingo, we have also a Chargéd' Affaires in Hayti and San Domingo, and is there any reason why these Republics should not be treated in the same way as the Republic: of San Domingo?

That is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign. Affairs if certain German shipping at Neufahrwasser and in the district adjacent to the mouth of the Vistula and Moltava has been nominally transferred by Germany to Holland; if, as the result of this action, when Poland takes possession of the Pomeranian coast she will find that it has been divested of all shipping; if such action is contrary to the provisions of the Peace Treaty; and what steps will be taken to put the matter right?

The facts of the case are these: There are some old and obsolete German warships lying at Neufahrwasser. The Germans have received permission from the Allied Naval Armistice Commission to sell two of these vessels, namely, the "Worth" and the "Hildebrand," to Dutch firms for breaking-up purposes. They have requested permission to sell five or six other old war vessels lying at the same port to Dutch firms for similar purposes, and this request is under consideration by the Allied Naval Armistice Commission.

asked when the Peace Treaties with the remaining enemy countries are likely to be concluded; and whether they will necessitate passing further Bills through the House?

As regards the first part of the question, I regret I am not at present in a position to say when the Peace Treaties with the remaining enemy countries will be concluded. Until the provisions of the various Treaties are determined, it is impossible to say what legislation they will involve.

asked the Prime Minister what action should be taken by the dependants of those killed in hostile air raids in order that their claims may be submitted to and settled by Germany, as provided by Article 232 of the Treaty of Peace?

Applicants should send in particulars of their claims to the Foreign Claims Office, Foreign Office.

asked the Prime Minister what arrangements are being made to recruit the permanent Civil Service for ex-German and ex-Ottoman territories for which this country is to- become responsible as mandatory of the League of Nations?

Until the final decision is taken with regard to the mandates of the League of Nations, temporary administration is being carried on by officers of the Colonial Services concerned. I am informed that the Foreign Office is collecting the names and particulars of candidates "who are likely to prove suitable when a decision has been come to.

Will the right hon. Gentleman accept as candidates disabled officers from the Indian Army who are specially qualified for these posts?

I do not think that is necessary, but I shall call the attention of the Foreign Office to that matter. I am sure, however, they will attend to it on their own initiative.

asked the Prim Minister for what purpose the Air Department of the Admiralty is maintained?

I have been asked to answer this question. I would repeat the reply which I gave on the 31st July to a similar question by my hon. Friend the Member for the Twickenham Division, that there is no Air Department at the Admiralty. There is an Air Division of the Naval Staff, which advises as to air operations affecting Royal Air Force units working with the Fleet. This division is manned by Royal Air Force officers lent by the Air Ministry. I might add that this arrangement was made to meet war conditions, and the question of the best means of securing the necessary close co-operation in peace-time is at present being considered by the two Departments.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the more generous treatment in regard to pensions which is being given to those who have served in the recent War, he will consider the claim to more generous treatment of those soldiers who have fought in previous wars in which this country has been engaged, notably the South African war, and who have now great difficulty in managing to exist?

I have been asked to reply. I would refer my hon. Friend to my answer, on the 7th ultimo, to the hon. and gallant Member for East Fife, to which I have nothing at present to add.

asked if, in view of the fact that the Government has the use of large sums of money owing to the delay in the payment of war gratuities, he will advise that these gratuities should be paid with interest at the rate of 5 per cent. from the date the receipt of the clearance certificate is acknowledged by the War Office to the date the gratuity is actually paid; and, if not, will he state his reasons for coming to this decision?

As already announced, all war gratuities are now about to be paid, and special steps have been taken to secure that there is no avoidable delay. In the circumstances, it is not considered necessary to introduce any system of paying interest for the time occupied by the Agents in making payment, as the complications so caused would themselves retard the payments.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will grant a Return showing how many unmarried separation allowances were drawn by women unable to marry by reason of the man or woman or the illegal union having a legal spouse alive?

The documents supporting a claim for separation allowance for an unmarried wife do not always show whether the parties to the claim were married or single. I regret, therefore, that I am unable to give this Return.

Will my right hon. Friend see that allowances are not given to any man for more than one wife?

We ensure that as far as we can.

asked whether the women telegraphists who joined up in the Queen. Mary's Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, and who served overseas are being refused the war gratuity on demobilisation; whether, having regard to the greatly increased cost of all articles of clothing which have to be purchased on demobilisation, and in view of the necessity for approximately equal treatment, he will reconsider the question so far as the members of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps are concerned; and whether he is able to state the War Office decision as to the future rate of pay of the women who have been retained with the Army of Occupation?

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member on the 16th July last.

asked the Secretary for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Private Clark, No. 610981, 226th Division Employment Camp, British Army of the Rhine; whether he is aware that this soldier's father is seventy years old and incapable of doing any work for himself and that he mother is a chronic invalid, both parents being in distress on account of this soldier's continued service with the forces; whether he is aware that this man endeavoured to enlist in 1914 and 1915 but was rejected on medical grounds, but that in spite of the circumstances in this man's favour he has been refused demobilisation for the reason that he case is not considered to come within the grounds of extreme compassion; and whether he will give sympathetic consideration to the request for Private Clark's immediate release?

There is no trace of any application having been received by the War Office on behalf of Private Clark. The application referred to by my hon. Friend was apparently made to the man's commanding officer, who is in possession of all instructions regarding demobilisation, and I am confident that this 6oldier's release would not have been refused had his case fallen within any of the categories prescribed in the instructions governing releases on such grounds. I regret, therefore, that I am unable to reconsider the decision. If, however, this soldier is eligible under the conditions of the Memorandum recently published he will be released accordingly.

asked the Secretary for War if he is aware that Driver E. Hunter, No. 296561, G Sub-section, 2nd Battery, Royal Field Artillery, Fenham Barracks, Newcastle-on-Tyne, enlisted, and is not seventeen years of age, and enlisted against his mother's wish?

Inquiries are being made, and I will inform the hon. Member of the result in due course.

asked whether the 1st/4th Devons, who were sent out to India at the outbreak of the War, are now being split up into email parties and attached to other regiments; and whether this may unduly delay their return home, which has been so long promised?

The cadre of this battalion is on its way home. Such personnel as were liable to be retained under existing Army Orders will have been transferred to other units, but it is not considered that this will unduly delay their return home. I would also refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave yesterday to my right hon. Friend the Member for South Molton.

Can the right hon. Gentleman now say whether these men are now being sent to the Afghan frontier?

No, I cannot. We are endeavouring to release these men as fast as possible. Battalions are going out every week to relieve these men, but, meanwhile, the position on the Indian frontier is such as to call for a large force, and the Indian authorities must have full latitude to deal with these troops until they can be replaced to the best possible advantage.

asked whether there are still in India any officers and men who, prior to 30th April last, had been certified by medical boards as unfit to remain in the country; and, if so, can their return be expedited?

In March, 1919, there were 6,463 unfit men and 215 officers recommended on medical grounds for repatriation before the hot weather. Of the men 5,500 were sent home and the remaining 963 unfit, taken from the least urgent cases in order of medical priority, were sent up to the hill stations. In April, on a further reduction of the garrison of India, most of these' remaining cases were sent home. It is possible on account of the recent outbreak that some of these men may have had to be retained, but they have been in excellent climates in the hill stations.

asked whether, now that peace has been ratified, men who enlisted voluntarily in Ireland during the years 1916, 1917, and 1918 for the duration of the War may immediately be released from military service?

As I promised yesterday, I will consider the cases to which my hon. and gallant Friend has drawn attention.

As compulsory service never came into force in Ireland, does the right hon. Gentleman not recognise that the case of these men is entirely different to that of the men who joined at corresponding dates in this country under the threat of Conscription; and, in view of the present state of Ireland, does he think it wise to break the bond on the strength of which these men joined and leave them with a sense of a burning grievance?

Will the right hon. Gentleman have regard to the fact that public pledges were given in this House, and also by advertisements circulated in every part of Ireland that these men would be demobilised immediately upon the cessation of hostilities?

I agree. I think they are in a different category, and they are at least in as good a position as the Derby men. I will go into the matter to see if anything can be done. The difficulties are enormous at the present time in dealing with these questions in the many emergencies which present themselves in our various theatres.