HC Deb 07 July 1868 vol 193 cc810-1
COLONEL JERVIS

said, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, Whether Lieutenant General Sir Henry Storks, G. C. B., Controller in Chief, War Department, has not expressed his entire disapproval of the views laid down by the Treasury in their Letter of the 29th June last respecting the proposed arrangements of the Control Department, more especially as they do not carry out the Recommendations of Lord Strathnairn's Committee?

SIR JOHN PAKINGTON

in reply, said he trusted that his hon. and gallant Friend would not think him wanting in courtesy to him if he declined to state in that House the substance of any conversations which might have passed between himself and the War Office officials with whom he had the pleasure of acting. There was, however one statement which be wished to make, as it might possibly be inferred from the Question that his hon. and gallant Friend intended to imply that there had been some personal difference between Sir Henry Storks and himself. [Colonel JERVIS: Not the slightest!] He did not mean to say that such was the intention of his hon. and gallant Friend, but he thought that might possibly be inferred from the terms of the Question, and he wished, therefore, to state most specifically that nothing could be more friendly and harmonious than his communications with Sir Henry Storks.

COLONEL JERVIS

said, he would now beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, Whether he will lay upon the Table the Papers referred to in War Office Letter of the 6th April 1868, page 19 of Papers marked War Office, "Control Department," 373, as the "enclosed Draft Regulations;" together with any Memorandum thereupon by the Chief Controller?

SIR JOHN PAKINGTON

replied that his hon. and gallant Friend was quite mistaken in the inference which he seemed to have drawn, that the Regulations now upon the table of the House had been drawn by the Treasury. The first Draft of the Regulations was somewhat hastily compiled, and was rather more lengthy than was necessary. It was, therefore, improved and revised; but the revised Copy, which was now on the table, had been drawn up by the same hand which drew up the original Regulations, and he could not see what good object was to be attained by laying on the table the first Draft, which had been improved upon and considerably altered.