§ MR. DE LISLE (Leicestershire, Mid)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether Lord Wolseley, either before, during, or after the Soudan Campaign, made any complaints or representations 766 to the Secretary of State for War concerning the arms and stores supplied during that Campaign, or concerning the organization and management of the Ordnance Department; and, if he did, whether Her Majesty's Government will lay such document or documents upon the Table of the House?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)In reply to my hon. Friend, I have to say, in reference to any representation made by Lord Wolseley during the campaign in the Soudan, that I can only refer him to the answer which I gave in this House on the 20th of August to a Question of a similar character to the hon. and gallant Member for Rochester (Colonel Hughes-Hallett). As regards any representation made by Lord Wolseley before or since the campaign, my hon. Friend is aware that Lord Wolseley has been and is Adjutant General, and in that position Minutes of a confidential character have, no doubt, been communicated by him to the Secretary of State; but it would be entirely without precedent, and contrary to the public interest, that such Minutes should be made public. I have already said that all complaints which have reached the War Office during the past five years would be submitted to the Commission of Inquiry already appointed.
§ MR. DE LISLEasked if the evidence given by the Commission would be laid before the House?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHThe evidence as well as the Report will be presented to the House.