§ MR. HANBURY (Preston)asked the Secretary of State for War whether his 503 attention has been called to a letter in the Times of 8th March, signed by Major-General Sir D. C. Drury-Lowe, in which, on behalf of the Special Committee of 1885, "he disclaims the responsibility now cast on that Committee for the issue of defective swords of the so-called 1885 pattern;" whether it is thereby intended to be conveyed that the defective swords were not manufactured in accordance with the Committee's pattern; and if the Committee, on whom he has placed the responsibility, is, as its Chairman states, not responsible, who is?
§ *THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. E. STANHOPE,) Lincolnshire, HorncastleI have seen the letter of Major-General Sir Drury-Lowe in the Times of March 8th; but my hon. Friend is as well able to interpret what the letter is intended to convey as I am. As he is aware, the transactions in question took place before I was connected with the War Office; but I am assured by my military advisers that the responsibility for the pattern of 1885 rests with the Committee of that date.