asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government still hold stocks of butter in this country and, if so, can be give, approximately, the quantity held here and at what price it is being offered to the trade; can he state if there are still any stocks to arrive in this country from any contracts placed with the Dominion or other governments; and if he can state, approximately, what quantity has still to be delivered under such contracts?

The Government still hold stocks of butter, but for reasons frequently explained to the House it is not desirable, while liquidation is in progress, to disclose stocks. The quantity of butter afloat from Australasia and lying unshipped in New Zealand amounts to approximately 8,000 tons. I am sending a copy of the current price list to the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the Government still hold stocks of sugar in this country or on the way here, and, if so, will he state approximately what quantity is still held in stock on Government account and what measures his Department are taking for the disposal of the same; and if it is being offered for sale at current market prices?

The stocks of sugar purchased on Government account, arrived or expected to arrive in this country, amount to 304,635 tons. With regard to the disposal of these stocks, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 12th April to the hon. Member for Walthamstow (West).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade if he will give the date upon which the Mixed Arbitral Tribunal under the Treaty of Peace was instituted; where it sits; how many cases are down for hearing; how many cases have been heard; and how many cases have been decided?

The Anglo-German Arbitral Tribunal was constituted in November, 1920, and sits at Winchester House, St. James's Square, S.W.1. Up to the present 29 cases have been set down for hearing, three of which have been argued, and in two of these judgment has been delivered.

Is it a fact that a little time ago this Committee suspended its sittings, and is it intended that they shall be resumed at an early date?

I do not think so.

There is an announcement in the Press to that effect.

asked the Prime Minister what further progress has been made by the Allies with the enforcement of the Treaty of Versailles in respect to Upper Silesia; whether he adheres to the policy of His Majesty's Government as last explained by him to this House; and when he will be in a position to make a further statement?

Negotiations having for their object the withdrawal by consent of the Polish insurgents and the German self-defence organisations are in progress between the Inter-Allied Commission and the representatives of the parties. The policy of His Majesty's Government has undergone no change since my last statement on this subject. I am unable to say when it will be possible to make a further statement.

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware that the towns and villages of Kostellitz, Wachowitz, Fei-Pipa, Fei-Kadlub, Schemrowitz, Waldhaeuser, Hohenbirken, Bukan, and Markowitz, in Upper Silesia, have been evacuated by the German defence forces on the demand of the Allied troops, and have since been occupied by the Polish insurgents, who are inflicting reprisals on the civil population; whether the Allied troops are taking steps or have taken steps to compel the Poles to evacuate these towns and villages; and why orders are not given to the Allied commanders to keep order impartially?

The villages of Kostellitz, Wachowitz, and Fei-Pipa were taken by the Polish insurgents at the inception of the movement. The remaining villages quoted are not in the hands of the insurgents. Waldhausen is actually occupied by British troops. The Allied commanders understand clearly that they are to keep order impartially.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that order has not been kept impartially, and that the Poles have been favoured by, at any rate, one of the Allies, and the Germans disfavoured?

No, I cannot accept the hon. and gallant Gentleman's statement.

Is it not notorious that the Polish insurgents have been favoured by one of the Allies?

The hon. and gallant Gentleman is repeating the question in another form.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is in a position to form any estimate of the quantity of timber, zinc, potash, and sugar which Germany could supply to this country in reduction of her financial obligations under the Treaty of Versailles; and whether, having regard to the fact that the exportation of such commodities to Britain would not compete with home industries, he will consider the propriety of enforcing this method of payment upon Germany?

No estimates have been framed on the lines suggested in the first part of the question, but the Reparation Commission is considering how far Germany's reparation liabilities can be satisfied in kind.

asked the Prime Minister when claims by British subjects which are registered in the Reparation Claims Department of the Board of Trade for submission to the Grants Commission are likely to be dealt with, and when he anticipates that any reparation receipts from Germany will be available for the purpose of satisfying such claims; and when the claims of British subjects in respect of damage to property which are matters of compensa- tion under the economic clauses of the Treaty of Versailles and registered in the Clearing Office for settlement are likely to be paid?

I have been asked to reply. As regards the first and second parts of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on the 20th instant to the hon. and gallant Member for Leith. As regards the third part, I am informed that the claims by British subjects for compensation in respect of damage to their property in Germany have to be adjudicated upon by the mixed arbitral tribunal, but that in order to save time and argument before the tribunal the British Clearing Office will be prepared to give their assistance to claimants in agreeing claims with the German authorities for submission to the tribunal for confirmation. As a result of recent negotiations with the German Government it is hoped that the payment of the compensation that is awarded may be accelerated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the £5,000,000 mentioned by his predecessor on 4th May, 1920, as purposed to be set apart for the satisfaction of claims in respect of civilian damage resulting from enemy action would be sufficient to satisfy all the claims the Government have received and admitted and upon which this part of the British claim against Germany was based; whether the Government has yet received sufficient money from Germany in respect of reparations to set aside the said £5,000,000; if so, when will the Commission be appointed to deal with the claims; whether the Government has yet received sufficient money to set aside the £5,000,000; and, if not, when do they expect to receive it?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. and gallant Member for Leith on the 20th June.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give any information as to the intention of the German Government in respect to the rate of exchange at which that Government will indemnify German traders for the 26 per cent. duty levied on goods exported from Germany and consigned to the United Kingdom; and, if he has no information, will he allow inquiries to be made of the German authorities?

I am informed that an official announcement has new been issued by the German Ministry of Finance that German exporters, on producing a British certificate of the amount levied and necessary details, will be reimbursed in respect of any levy collected since 12th May last in German currency at the rate of exchange prevailing on the day when the certificate was issued.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state the weight of German dyes which have been contributed by Germany in connection with reparation; the cost of these dyes to the Government at the time of placing them on the market; and the prices being charged to the trade?

The total weight of synthetic dyestuffs received up to the present for the British Empire under the Reparation Clauses of the Treaty of Versailles is approximately 4,053 tons, and the total value credited to Germany is about 110 million paper marks, to which must be added cost of carriage, storage and distribution. The prices charged to the trade—which, of course, vary according to the classes and brands of dyestuffs—are as nearly as possible the market prices ruling at the time of sale, and have been fixed in consultation with representatives of the consumers.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether Captain-Lieutenant Neumann, who was charged at Leipzig with the crime of torpedoing the hospital ship "Dover Castle," was acquitted partly on the ground that such action is justified in the case of a ship used for the conveyance of soldiers wounded in a land battle; and whether, in view of the gravity of the position which this decision creates by legalising such an act of inhumanity, the Government proposes to take steps for the question to be considered by the League of Nations, with a view to an international agreement being come to on the subject?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The second part does not arise.

Do the Government intend to leave the matter entirely where it is at the present time? Are they satisfied with the manner in which these trials have been conducted in Leipzig? Are they satisfied that one large Power like Germany should have special arrangements by which their officers can be exonerated from liability in a case such as the one referred to?

I have answered the first part of the supplementary question on many occasions, and my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General has done the same. I think the hon. Member has rather imperfectly understood the answer to the question. Some confusion has taken place between the arguments presented on behalf of the accused and the judgment of the Court. The judgment of the Court did not accept the view presented in the first part of the question.

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman think that it is advisable in the interests of humanity that one Power should have special privileges, such as Germany apparently has, by the decision arrived at by the Leipzig Court?

Is the hon. Member right in supposing that the League of Nations will settle the laws of war as well as the laws of labour?

May I point out to you, Mr. Speaker, that it was at the request of the Government I put this question down for to-day? Considering the circumstances, does not my right hon. and learned Friend think that some reply should be given to the question, and not leave it in the vague manner in which it stands at present, in which we do not know anything?

The question was precisely answered.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the misery caused through unemployment and the damage to our national trade consequent on the dispute in the coal industry, he is prepared to introduce immediate legislation to compel the parties concerned to submit their dispute to an impartial board of arbitration, whose decision should be binding on both?

I agree that the damage caused to trade by the coal stoppage leads to very serious consideration as to methods by which it may fairly be brought to an end; but I am not prepared, as circumstances are at present, to introduce legislation for the purpose indicated by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is able to state the number of miners in the mines of England, Scotland, and Wales, respectively, who are aliens or the immediate descendants of aliens; if not, whether such information will be available from the Census Returns when they are duly tabulated; and whether his Department has any plans for repatriating those registered as aliens to their various countries of origin as undesirables?

I have been asked to reply to this question. No figures later than those of the 1911 Census are available. There were then 1,144 aliens working in mines and quarries in England and Wales and 2,921 in Scotland. "Immediate descendants" is a phrase of uncertain extension, and no figures are available on this point. Statistics of alien miners will be available when the Census Returns of 1921 are tabulated; but it should be clearly understood that the Census Returns are confidential and cannot be used as the basis for repatriation.

Does the calling of a miner render an alien undesirable and liable to deportation, as asked in the question?

Has the right hon. Gentleman any information as to the number of British subjects engaged in mining in different parts of the world?

No, I cannot give that information. It depends on the individual, of course.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these men are the descendants of people who were brought in by coalowners in previous years with the object of breaking previous strikes?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state approximately the quantity of coal that has been imported into this country from the United States, France, Belgium, and Germany since the coal dispute has existed this year?

The quantities of coal recorded as imported into this country from the United States, France, and Belgium since 1st April are approximately as follow: United States 335,000 tons. France 430,000 tons. Belgium 495,000 tons Of the coal imported from France and Belgium some 160,000 tons is known to be of German origin.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, seeing that the freedom of the individual is still secured by Section 7 of the Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act, which makes liable to a fine or imprisonment a person who, with a view to compel any other person to abstain from doing any act which such other person has a legal right to do, uses violence or intimidation or besets his house or follows him about with other persons in a disorderly manner, he will say why the protection of this Section is not afforded to these persons who in a peaceful and orderly manner have recently desired to resume their occupation in the coal-mining industry?

The police have instructions to give, and are giving, such protection to the utmost extent which is possible with the forces at their disposal; and in many cases they have the assistance of the military forces of the Crown.

( by Private Notice ) asked the Leader of the House whether he will give the House an opportunity of deciding the question of the payment of a subsidy to the miners out of public funds before any pledge is given outside this House in the matter?

I cannot at present say whether the resumed conferences will lead to anything, but if it should appear that the terms of a permanent settlement had been reached between the owners and the miners, and that the only obstacle to the immediate resumption of work was the impossibility of carrying out the necessary reductions without some assistance from public funds, I hope that the House will not think it necessary so to fetter the discretion of the negotiating Ministers as to make a prolongation of the struggle unavoidable. In that case, I would bring the matter before the House on the earliest day possible.

I beg the House to remember that I have been asked a purely hypothetical question. There is really a good deal of difficulty and some danger in answering questions of the kind in relation to results of negotiations which have only just begun. Should the contingency arise in the course of this week, I should propose to bring the matter before the House on Friday next.

May I ask whether the agricultural labourers will receive the same treatment?

Why not?

Will the Government consider very carefully the manner in which any assistance is to be given, and take pains to limit that assistance to the smallest possible amount?

You think you have them on their bellies, and wish to get them right down now.

The matter is not quite finished yet!

Hon. Members opposite are being subsidised all the time!

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the Report on the Explosive Industry of the Sub-Committee appointed under the Profiteering Acts to the effect that the Nobel combine practically control the policy of the various trade associations in the industry, and is thus able to substantially determine the prices at which explosives and detonators are sold in this country, and that the present agreement of the Treasury and the Board of Trade with the combine does not appear to afford a workable scheme of control or supervision; and whether he will put into force the recommendation of the Committee that the powers of the Board of Trade should be supplemented by statutory authority to require from the combine any information which may be necessary to enable review to be made of its operations and prices, and to enable the Board to make recommendations for the adequate protection of the consumer?

I have been asked to reply. I am aware of the recommendations of the Committee, which are of the nature indicated by the hon. Member. The question of vesting in the Board of Trade the additional powers suggested by the Committee will be considered in connection with the general legislation on trusts which the Government hope to introduce in due course.

asked the Secretary for Mines the quantity of coal used in brewing and distilling in the United Kingdom for the purpose of malting, brewing, distilling, and transport during the calendar year 1920?

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Prime Minister whether, having regard to the fact that the salary of a High Court Judge, after deduction of Income Tax and Super-tax, is only about £3,000, it is the intention of the Government to increase such salary?

The matter is still under consideration.

Is it not time the matter should really be decided? It has been under consideration for a very long time.

Is there any sound reason why Judges of the High Court have their Income Tax and Super-tax paid by the State any more than the Income Tax and Super-tax of other officials?

asked the Secretary for Mines if he will state the names of the daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly newspapers, journals, books, and other periodicals or bound volumes supplied to his Department?

In accordance with normal practice, the Mines Department is supplied with copies of the newspapers, journals, books, and other periodicals which are likely to be of importance in the work of the Department. It is hardly practicable to set out a list of them within the compass of an answer to a question, but I will show the hon. and gallant Member a list should he so desire.

asked the Minister of Transport whether a representative of the Treasury is attached to his Department at a salary of £5,000 a year; when was this official appointed; what are his duties; by whom was the remuneration fixed; and when will the appointment terminate?

I have been asked to reply. A Treasury representative is employed within the Ministry of Transport for the purpose of supervising the various financial transactions of that Department from a Treasury point of view. This officer was appointed for a term of three years in August, 1919, when the Ministry of Transport Bill was passed into law. His salary, which is of the amount stated in my hon. Friend's question, was fixed by the Board of Treasury and has been submitted to the approval of this House in the Treasury Vote.

Are we to understand that the Minister of Transport is paid £5,000 a year to watch the railway companies, and the Treasury appoint another official at £5,000 to watch the Minister of Transport? Will the Minister of Transport say whether he is familiar with the old adage of "big fleas having, little fleas upon their backs to bite them," and why is his Department so largely composed of big bugs, all of whom are eating into the finances of the country?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas. Trade Department how many officials are employed in his Department, administrative and clerical; what number have had business experience in the export and import trade; and what percentage have made a study of trade conditions overseas in the Dominions and foreign countries?

The total number of administrative and clerical officials (excluding typists) employed by the Department of Overseas Trade in this country is 434. Of this total the class of market and trade officers, on whom the Department relies for expert commercial knowledge, numbers 104. Forty-eight of these market and trade officers had had business experience in the import or export trade before joining the Department; the remainder have acquired their special knowledge while in its service. About 57 per cent. of these officers and the directing staff have made a study abroad of trade conditions.

Is the 57 per cent. referred to in the answer only 50 per cent. of the 44 who have knowledge of export trade?

I gave the percentage which had actual experience of export and import trade, and I gave the percentage of those who had had opportunity of studying conditions actually overseas. It represented 57 per cent. of 104.

How many of those who have had experience of foreign trade are civil servants, and how many of the men who have been added to the Overseas Department, temporarily, are ex-service men?

The hon. Member should put down that question.

asked the Postmaster-General how many boys of the age of 14–15 are employed by his Department at a wage, including bonus, of 21s. 3d. a week and upwards; and why these boys are paid more than twice as much as the boys employed by the District Messenger Service?

Boy messengers under 15 years of age employed within the London postal area are paid wages of 8s. a week, which, with the current bonus addition, amount to 21s. 3d. a week. On 1st September the wages, by the operation of the sliding scale bonus, will be reduced to about 18s. a week. The total number of such boys employed on the 31st March last, the latest date for which statistics are available, was 692. I have no definite information regarding the remuneration of boys employed by the District Messenger Service.

Will the hon. Gentleman inform us how it is possible for a working-class family to keep a boy on the wages paid by the District Messenger Service?

The Post Office wage will be 18s. for a boy under 15 years of age.

Does the Post Office propose seriously to pay boys under 15 a wage of 18s. a week after the beginning of September?

In reference to the comparison made, I have not the present exact figures of the District Messenger Service. For last July the wages paid were 12s. and 12s. 6d. per week. Of course, these boys get tips, but the Post Office boys do not.

Would hon. Members keep their own boys on the money offered?

That does not arise out of the question.

The boys of hon. Members get more in pocket money than the wages we can get for our children.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of the staffs employed at the Ministry of pensions, the Ministry of Labour, and the Inland Revenue Department, respectively, on the 1st April last; and the increase and decrease in each case as compared with the number employed on the 1st October, 1920?

The figures are as follow: — 1st Oct., 1920. 1st April, 1921. Increase. Ministry of Pensions. 25,955 26,045 90 Ministry of Labour. 15,863 24,354 8,491 Inland Revenue 20,736 21,557 821

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the regrading scheme of the Department of the Public Trustee has yet been ratified; and, if so, what number of executive posts it provides for its women clerks, in view of the reiterated assurances given that the recommendations in paragraph 67 of the Reorganisation Report as to the assimilation of women clerks to the executive grade would take place on regarding?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and accordingly, it is not yet possible to give a reply to the second part.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any first-class women clerks who have been interchangeable with intermediate clerks and any first-class women clerks who have been interchangeable with supervising assistant clerks; and, if so, how it has been possible to assimilate the male clerks to the executive and higher clerical grades, respectively, before the regrading schemes have been ratified, when it is not possible to assimilate the women clerks to the same grades until after the number of posts available on reorganisation is known?

As stated in my reply to the hon. and gallant Member on 2nd June, the clerks in question, both male and female, have been assimilated into the grades recommended in the Report of the Joint Committee of the National Whitley Council. Pending the coming into operation of the reorganisation scheme for the Ministry of Health, no other action was open to me. When the scheme is approved and I am in a position to deal with regrading as distinct from assimilation, the claims of all clerks who are competent to perform duties appropriate to higher grades will receive the fullest consideration.

Do I understand from that answer that the claims of these women will be in no way prejudiced by the delay?

Yes, certainly. They will not be prejudiced.

asked the Minister of Transport the weight of ale and beer, and spirits and wine, carried on the railways of the United Kingdom during the calendar year 1920?

The tonnage of ale and porter, including empties, charged at station-to-station rates conveyed by railways in the United Kingdom during the year 1920 was 1,678,000 tons. The tonnage of wines and spirits conveyed at rates including collection and delivery was 327,000 tons.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent has oil been, and is being, substituted for coal in locomotives on the railways of the United Kingdom; and how far has the change been favourable, or otherwise, in view of efficiency and cost as compared with coal?

I will answer this for my right hon. Friend (Sir E. Geddes), who has had to go away to a Committee. With regard to the first part of the question, particulars furnished show that 116 locomotives have been fitted with oil-burning apparatus, and that a further seven are in course of adaptation. Sufficient experience has not yet been obtained to enable me to answer the second part of the question.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Government of Denmark has appointed a woman as full voting delegate to the conference on the traffic in women and children which meets in Geneva on 30th June and that the French Government has appointed a woman as alternate delegate; and whether he will again consider the desirability of appointing a woman either as alternate delegate or as technical adviser, so that Great Britain may be as adequately represented as these other countries?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I am informed that the French Government has appointed a lady as assistant delegate. I have no information with regard to Denmark. In the circumstances which I explained in my reply to the hon. Member's previous question on the 9th June, I do not consider it necessary to appoint a woman adviser to the British delegation.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that the woman representing France is a Government official, and that we have no official representative there? That is the difference.

asked the Prime Minister when the Government propose to fulfil the repeated pledges to introduce legislation to provide for the re-constitution of the House of Lords?

My hon. and gallant Friend must know that it is impossible to deal with a question of this magnitude and importance this Session, but we hope to submit our proposals early next Session.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Government have decided to this extent, that under the new reform of the House of Lords Ministers will be entitled to sit in either House, and that therefore we may look forward to seeing the Lord Chancellor here again shortly?

I think it would be inadvisable to disclose the proposals of His Majesty's Government.

Are we to understand that the reform of the House of Lords will be the first item of the Government's programme for next year?

As far as I can forecast the programme of the future Session of Parliament, it will be our main legislative proposal.

If there is to be an Autumn Session, will the Government be able to implement the pledge this year, seeing that they may never have another Session?

There is not to be an Autumn Session.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think this is the last Parliamentary Session of this Government?

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to a statement of the Japanese Minister of Marine to the Associated Press of America that, should the Powers come to a reliable understanding and agree unanimously to limit their armaments, Japan would limit her armaments to a certain extent and would not necessarily insist on the completion of her programme; and whether the Government will ascertain if this statement would apply to a naval agreement to which Great Britain and the United States are parties?

I have seen the statement referred to, and have noted its importance, but I cannot add anything at this moment to what was said by me in this House on Friday, the 17th instant, and by the Prime Minister at the opening of the Imperial Conference on the Monday following.

asked the Prime Minister whether it has ever been officially intimated to the United States of America, by means of a diplomatic Note, that in no circumstances can Japan receive support from this country under the terms of the alliance in the event of a war between Japan and the United States of America?

The United States Government are so fully acquainted with the real position that it has not been thought necessary to inform them of it in an official Note.

asked the Lord Privy Seal when it is intended to bring Votes 8, 9, and 12 of the Navy Estimates forward for discussion in Committee?

It would not be convenient for the House—and it is the convenience of the House which guides me in such matters—to allocate Supply Days far in advance, and I am, therefore, not yet in a position to name a day for a resumed discussion on the Naval Estimates.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Resolutions of the Imperial Conference in respect of the Imperial Navy will be laid before this House before the Votes are brought on?

I cannot say. That depends upon two factors, both of which are indeterminate—the time when the Imperial Conference comes to a decision, and the time when the Votes are taken.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether this question of a real Imperial Navy is being thoroughly discussed by the Imperial Conference?

The question of military, naval, and air defence, in its relation to the Empire, is one of the subjects proposed to be discussed by the Conference.

May we take it that Votes 8, 9, and 12 will be discussed before the end of the Session?

I am not quite sure how many allotted days there are left; but there are some allotted days for supply, and if these Votes are asked for on one of those days that will be done.

Is it fair to the House when we want to discuss all these Naval Estimates, which are extremely import- ant, that it should depend upon the will of two right hon. Gentlemen as to whether there is a discussion or not?

My hon. Friend and I do our best to meet the wishes of the House. It always has been customary to leave the chief say in deciding what Votes should be taken to the party or parties in opposition. That is probably the arrangement which best serves the interests of the House.

May we have a voice in the matter?

I am glad to hear that my hon. Friend dissociates himself from the parties in opposition.

Is it not right, in deciding as to the discussion of these great Imperial questions, that the party which represents the great majority should have a choice in saying what is to be discussed?

Is not that the party which is in opposition to-day?

As far as I am informed of the practice of the House, I am sure that what my hon. and learned Friend has referred to is one of the factors which are taken into account by those who arrange these matters.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the New York Customs Authorities have seized 600 Thomson machine guns which the Irish Republican faction were about to ship to Ireland; whether he has any information indicating that this large number of guns was manufactured by the American firms concerned in ignorance of their intended destination and the purpose for which they were to be used; whether previous to this incident the Government has reason to suppose that other consignments of munitions have been shipped from America for use by the Sinn Feiners in Ireland; and whether a protest has been made to the American Government against the manufacture and supply of arms to the Irish rebels?

Some 500 machine guns, with a number of rifles and a quantity of ammunition, were seized by the New York Customs Authorities on 15th June. There is every reason to believe that the articles seized were intended to be sent to Ireland, but, as the whole matter is now under investigation by the United States judicial authorities, a statement on the subject would be premature.

Will the hon. Gentleman answer the last part of my question? Has any protest been made to the American Government?

No occasion for protest has arisen.

Does my hon. Friend say it is the ordinary custom that should obtain between two friendly nations that one is to be allowed without protest to send arms into the other?

My hon. and gallant Friend is entirely mistaken. No such action has been taken by the American Government.

Can the hon. Gentleman say the number of German guns that were sent to Ulster in 1914, and was any protest made then?

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the treatment of untried Irish prisoners at present detained in Scottish prisons; whether the Irish prisoners awaiting trial in Duke Street prison, Glasgow, were confined in their cells for 23 out of the 24 hours a day; and whether, in view of the undesirability of applying such close confinement to prisoners awaiting trial, he will cause inquiries to be made into the matter with a view to allowing better conditions to those prisoners who are detained awaiting trial, and have not yet been found guilty of any charge?

The attention of my right hon. Friend had not been called to the matter referred to in the first part of the question. The present period of exercise for untried male prisoners at Duke Street prison is 1¼ hours daily, and untried Irish prisoners receive the same treatment as other untried prisoners. By the Statutory Rules for Prisons in Scotland the length of time of exercise is regulated by the medical officer. My right hon. Friend has made inquiry, and learns that a few days ago one of the Prison Commissioners visited the Irish prisoners and asked if they had any complaint to make, and in all cases was answered in the negative.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what is the cost to the State of the opening of the Northern Parliament for Ireland, including naval, military, police, and other forces which were requisitioned for the occasion?

I do not know the exact cost to the State of the opening of the Northern Parliament. Whatever the precise figure may be, it is negligible compared with the beneficent result of the Royal visit.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer my question and not make replies to something which is not on the Paper at all?, I have asked when can we have these figures?

I endeavoured to answer the question. I do not know, and I cannot ascertain without an enormous amount of detailed labour involving a great number of Departments, the exact cost of the opening of the Northern Parliament. I do not think I would be justified in undertaking this enormous and detailed work at the present time in Ireland. I am convinced any extra cost incurred owing to the Royal visit was negligible.

May I ask, in view of all that occurred in connection with the Royal visit, whether the spending of all this money on military and naval forces was not another instance of squandermania?

asked the Chief Secretary if his attention has been called to the fact that in the Presbytery Church, Ballinaglera, County Leitrim, on the 5th June last, the head of the police force in County Leitrim dragged the people off their knees in the middle of Mass and drove them outside the Church; and whether the Government will take steps to ensure that behaviour of this sort does not occur again?

I am informed that a party of Crown forces surrounded Ballinaglera Chapel during Mass on 5th June with a view to searching for wanted men after Mass was over. Directly they arrived one man sitting just inside the door was seen to pass a bundle of papers to another and he in turn was about to pass it to a woman when it was intercepted. The two men involved in this incident were touched on the shoulder and requested to come outside, which they did. This is the only foundation for the allegation that people were dragged off their knees and driven out of church. No other persons left their seats till the conclusion of the service, which was in no way interrupted and went an without a pause to its conclusion. The documents seized were of a seditious character and were retained by the police.

asked the Chief Secretary whether a young man named Edward Doherty, of Coreffrin, Ballybofey, County Donegal, was chased from his house on Thursday the 2nd June, 1921, and shot dead by the military; that a solicitor requested to be present at the military inquiry in lieu of the inquest, held at Drumboe Castle on the 4th June, and was refused admission; if he will say whether any of the local constabulary, who knew the deceased and were present at the castle when the inquiry was held, were called as witnesses; what witnesses were called and what was the finding of the military inquiry; whether, in view of the fact of his having been killed wantonly one and a half miles from the scene of an alleged ambush, that he belonged to no society, legal or otherwise, he being chased from his house by the military, any compensation will be given by the Government; whether he is aware that James McCarron, of Ballybofey, who was killed on the same date, had a good War record, entering the Service on 19th April, 1915, was wounded at the Somme battle, 1916, and invalided home, again returned and was wounded at Givenchy, and was finally discharged on pension on 10th January, 1919; if he will say whether any of these facts were brought forth at the military inquiry; and whether the arrears of his pension will be paid to his father, James McCarron, of Ballybofey?

A party of Crown forces proceeding to Drumboe on 2nd June were stopped by a barrier of stones which had been placed across the road. As they were alighting from their car to investigate they were fired upon at close range and four men were seen running away. These men were fired upon and James McCarron was killed. Sixteen rounds of ammunition were found in his pocket. McCarron is described in the police report as an ex-soldier and captain in the Irish Republican Army. After obtaining reinforcements the Crown forces proceeded to search the neighbourhood and visited, among others, the house of Edward Doherty. As the door was opened Doherty ran out. He was challenged three times and three shots were fired in the air. As he still did not stop, he was fired at and wounded, and died in hospital some hours later. The court of inquiry found that both men were shot by Crown forces in the execution of their duty. I must decline, for obvious reasons, to give the names of witnesses who were examined during the inquiries, but as regards the allegation that a solicitor was refused admission I am having inquiry made. The last part of the question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions.

asked the Chief Secretary whether nine young men were arrested and have been detained in Mountjoy Prison, Dublin, since 28th May last, on suspicion of being concerned in a raid on the post office at Kells, County Meath; and whether, seeing that it is unfair to keep these young men in prison without trial for such a length of time, and since no charge has been made against them, they will be immediately liberated?

Nine men were arrested between 27th and 29th ultimo for the attack on Kells post office. They are now in Mountjoy Prison. Their cases are under investigation, and action will be taken as soon as possible.

When will these men be tried? Is it not quite a customary thing for the Irish Government to keep innocent men in prison for a long time and not to try them at all?

It is not.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he has any information about the case of two men named John and Patrick Watters, who were taken from their house in Dundalk on the 19th instant by a party of men stated to have been wearing trench coats, placed against a wall and shot; and whether their murderers have yet been traced?

I have not yet received the full report of the proceedings of the Court of Inquiry, but I am informed that the Court found that these men were wilfully murdered by some person or persons unknown. I regret to say that no arrests have been made.

Have any arrests ever been made of men who have killed civilians?

Yes.

When?

Put down a question.

If I put down a question, I shall not get an answer.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he has any information with reference to the fate of Major de Berry, who was kidnapped on the 21st June; and whether he has any information relating to Constable George Duckham, who was kidnapped on the 22nd June near Clondrohid Cross?

I regret that no information has been received as to the fate or whereabouts of Major de Berry or Constable Duckham. Every effort is being made to trace these officers.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he has any information as to the burning of Skibbereen workhouse and of Bandon workhouse on the 22nd and 23rd of June?

am not yet in a position to give full particulars of these cases, but the Commander-in-Chief informs me that he has received a telegraphic report that Bandon Workhouse was seized by the rebels on the 23rd June. They remained for about an hour, and burned the building on leaving.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether interned Sinn Feiners, many of whom are suspected to be murderers, are being treated as political prisoners, and that in many cases they are being allowed to receive luxurious food from the Irish White Cross Society, although they are receiving at the same time the same rations as British soldiers and officers; and whether this practice can be discontinued?

Persons interned in internment camps are being well treated, receiving as they do a good daily ration. The Commander-in-Chief has not hitherto prevented parcels of luxuries in the way of food stuffs being sent to them.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that a British merchant ship, s.s. "King Alexander," recently arrived at Constantinople from the Piraeus flying the Red Ensign and entirely manned, with the exception of a British wireless operator, by Greeks, none of whom were either naturalised British subjects or held a British Board of Trade certificate; and that, in spite of protests from persons entitled to protest, this ship was allowed to clear on her outward voyage by orders from the Foreign Office; whether he will state who gave those orders and why; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter, seeing that the manning of this ship as above described and the order for its clearance were not in accordance with the law?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards parts two and three, the vessel was not detained, or prevented from sailing, by the British authorities at Constantinople, as there is no legal restriction, so far as I am aware, with regard to the officering and manning of British ships trading between Constantinople and other foreign ports.

Has my hon. Friend read the provisions of the Aliens Act as to the employment of British subjects; and, if so, why were they disregarded in this case?

It is rather a Home Office than a Foreign Office matter, and I have also had the advantage of consultation with the Board of Trade.

Were orders from the Foreign Office sent to enable this ship to clear on her outward voyage?

I am sorry that the answer did not refer to that. Perhaps the hon. and learned Member will put down that question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that, although no written communication has been received by His Majesty's Government from the Chinese Government since the formation of the new Consortium in October last, there have been many official conversations in Peking as well as a declaration by the Chinese Financial Minister to the American Minister and to the American Financial Representative; whether, under these circumstances, His Majesty's Government knows what is the point of view of China with regard to the Consortium; and whether, if it does, it will inform the House of its purport?

I do not know precisely to what official conversations and declaration the hon. Member refers. I am aware that there was much opposition and criticism in China when the Consortium first came into being, but that was to be foreseen, and was no doubt largely due to misinformation and misapprehension. The only authoritative pronouncement as to the attitude of the Chinese Government towards this subject is to be found in a published letter of the Chinese Minister of Finance to the Consortium representatives last November to the effect that China heartily welcomed such evidence of goodwill provided her-national freedom remained unimpaired.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that John Greaves, a British subject, was taken as hostage by the Bolsheviks on the 9th May, 1920, at Bordiansk; that shortly afterwards he was removed to Alevandrovsk; and that it has been reported he was shot by the Bolsheviks on 25th November, 1920, at Clarkoff; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

The information on which the hon. Member's question is founded has already been brought to the notice of the Foreign Office, but no confirmation has yet been received from any source. I need hardly say that inquiries were at once made of the Soviet Government, and that they will be renewed until a full report is forthcoming.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether any, and, if so, how many of the members of the British Trade Mission are officially qualified Russian interpreters?

As my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade informed the hon. Member for Islington on the 9th June, the proposed members of the Commercial Mission to Russia all have a thorough knowledge of the Russian language, both written and spoken.

Does that mean that they are not officially qualified?

I think that they have the full qualification of men who have had a long experience in Russia and are fluent speakers and writers of the language.

Does the hon. and gallant Gentleman realise that many men have spent long lives in Russia and have not learned a word of Russian?

Yes, but the difference is that these officers have spent many years in Russia and have become fluently acquainted with the language.

What is the use of the Russian interpreters who have been given rewards by the Government and have never done a stitch of work in their lives?

I really cannot say whether the premises on which my hon. Friend bases his question or his conclusions are correct, but these officers have been specially selected for their knowledge of the Russian language and for their experience of Russian business.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware that the French Consul in London does not impose any charge for certifying the documents of British traders; in view of this, is he prepared to give instructions that British Consuls in France should not make any charge on French traders desirous of exporting goods to British nationals; and whether he can see his way clear to address communications to all countries with whom we have commercial treaties or covenants expressing willingness to instruct British Consuls to refrain from making any charge if the respective Governments concerned will do likewise?

By an exchange of Notes in 1899, this country and France agreed mutually to waive consular fees on certificates of origin, and this mutual arrangement is in force in both countries. At the present moment, I see little prospect of concluding similar arrangements with other foreign countries.

Has the hon. Gentleman made any efforts to approach other countries? Considering that Great Britain exports the greatest quantity of goods, would it not be a great advantage to traders if this arrangement could be extended?

I am watching the matter. At present there is no advantage to be gained, but action will be taken as and when occasion presents itself.

As the Overseas Trade Department has a very large staff, would it not be usefully employed in making these suggestions to foreign Powers?

I do not think that it would be usefully employed when there is not the least prospect that its suggestions would lead to a useful result.

If foreign Powers refused, that would alter the case, but will the hon. Gentleman reconsider the matter as foreign Powers have not refused it?

We have already considered this, and I do not think that at present we should be in a position to make any particular suggestion, but circumstances may arise in which such a proposition may be made with a useful result.

asked the President of the Board of Trade who are the two directors of the British Cellulose Company appointed by the Government at a salary of £500 a year?

The two directors appointed by the Government are Brigadier-General Sir William Alexander, K.B.E., C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., and Sir Philip Henriques, K.B.E.