To ask the Minister for Defence what measures he is taking or contemplates taking, to vindicate the Army against the persistent charges that are being made against soldiers in connection with raids and searches, and in connection with the execution of their duties when in charge of prisoners, in view of the fact that constant propaganda of this kind, however exaggerated, must have mischievous results if it be ignored and unanswered; further, to ask the Minister for Defence what machinery exists for investigating charges of the kind described, whether investigation is regularly made into such charges, and whether he will consider the advisability in the public interest of publishing the findings of all such investigations where the charges enquired into have already received publicity.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. - PROPAGANDA AGAINST SOLDIERS.
Under the conditions and with the limited administrative resources with which we are working at present, it is not possible to follow up by enquiry all cases of complaint appearing in the public Press, and propagandists take full advantage of this.
No regular machinery exists for the making of such enquiries, and no special machinery is contemplated.
In cases in which complaint is formally made to the Military Authorities the matter is followed up where the persons complained of are available through the responsible Commanding Officers.
The feasibility and the necessity of publicity in such matters is questionable.