On Tuesday in the House of Commons the Indemnity Bill
was again considered on the order for going into Committee. Captain Berkeley moved an amendment to limit the indemnity to persons who had acted " in good faith." After considerable discussion Lord Robert Cecil agreed that " verbally " the Bill did go further than merely indemnify the Home Secretary. The Govern- ment, however, had followed the precedent of the Act of 1920. Under that Act it was held to be a complete defence that any action was taken under the orders of a Government Department. When the fact that action had been so taken was established, good faith was statutorily assumed. There was really no danger of indemnity being broadcasted to anybody who had acted illegally under the eighty-four regulations for the restoration of order in Ireland. Later, nevertheless, Lord Robert Cecil himself moved an amendment to limit the scope of the Bill to acts done under the particular regulation known as 14B. This was agreed to. On Wednesday the second reading was carried.
* * *
Previous page
