§ Mr. Roebuckrose for the purpose of putting a question to the right hon. Baronet at the head of her Majesty's Government. The noble Lord (Lord J. Russell) had asked when the papers relating to the Affghan war would be laid on the table of the House. He (Mr. Roebuck) wished to ask if those papers would include all the information that existed relative to the commencement of the war? His reason for asking that question was this: the vote of thanks which the right hon. Baronet had given notice of his intention to move, included not only the army, but the Governor-general, and inasmuch as the vote of thanks to the Governor-general would necessarily depend upon the policy which he had pursued in withdrawing the troops within the Indus, the House ought to have all possible information respecting the policy of the war from the commencement. Therefore, he would ask the righ hon. Baronet, first, if he could, consistently with his duty, submit the two questions separately to the consideration of the House; and, if not, whether he would be prepared to give to the House, before he proposed the vote of thanks, all the evidence which would be necessary to enable the House to judge of the propriety of the war?
§ Sir R. Peelsaid, the hon. Gentleman 203 would, no doubt, recollect that an intention had been expressed of laying before the House papers to a certain extent respecting the war. The papers which Government intended to produce would, he thought, afford to the House a full opportunity of judging of the policy of the withdrawal of the troops from Affghanistan. But the Government did not propose to give any other papers than should be sufficient to enable the House to form a judgment of the skill and valour of the troops and their leaders in their departure, and of the policy of the withdrawal. It was not intended to carry the information to be communicated to a period beyond that. If the hon. Gentleman would wait till he saw the papers, he would then know whether they sufficiently tended to throw light on the policy of the Government.