T
€OMPESSATIOS FOR MALICIOUS INJURIES IN
IRELAND.
Letter to the Provisional Government.
Doavning Street,
2.Qth July, 1922.
sle,
His Majesty's Groverrunent have lately given anxious consideration
to certain insistent questions of diSiculty arising out of the arrange¬
ments made for the payment of compensation to persons who have
suffered in Southern Ireland injuries that would normally have entitled
them to compensation under the Criminal Injuries Acts. They
feel sure that the same urgent problems must have forced themselves
upon the attention of the Provisional Government. They desire me,
therefore, to communicate with you fully on the subject,
2. As the outcome of an agreement between the two Governments
in January last, the Compensation (Ireland) Commission has been
established under the Chairmanship of Lord Shaw of Dunfermline to
deal with cases of malicious injury to property sustained between
January 21st, 1919, and July 11th, 1921. His Majesty's Government
understand that nine cases of considerable variety have been heard
and decided by this Commission, and that these have created pre¬
cedents which should lead to the settlement, without difficulty and
probably without formal hearing of a much greater number. They
understand also that steps have already been taken by the Commission,
with the help of the Provisional Government, for the appointment
of agents who wiU investigate outstanding cases locally, and will be
empowered to settle them without delay in so far as the compensation
to be awarded may be agreed. This procedure is entirely in accord
with the understanding reached in January last. On the other hand
the inevitable delay in starting to dispose of claims on this agreed
system has naturally caused apprehension and sometimes hardship
among those whose claims await settlement. While the two Govern¬
ments share the ultimate responsibility for meeting the financial charge
involved, the immediate power of resolving those anxieties must in
the circumstances rest primarily with the Provisional Government.
They have undertaken to pay in the first instance awards made by the
Commission or arising out of decrees previously given by the Courts
in defended cases, and they alone can secure to the Officers of the Crown
facilities for the prompt and unhampered performance of their duties.
His Majesty's Government believe that the fullest assistance is being
given to the Compensation Commission by the Provisional Government.
They desire, however, to be in a position authoritatively to relieve
the anxiety of those who from time to time approach them as jointl
