HC Deb 03 May 1855 vol 138 cc27-8
MR. WHITESIDE

Sir, I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, since the laying down of the telegraph, any despatch has been received by the Government from the Crimea by telegraph which has not been communicated to the public?

SIR CHARLES WOOD

I hope, Sir, the House will clearly understand that the Government, in reference to communications made to them by the admirals and generals in the Crimea, must obviously, for the good of the public service, exercise the most complete discretion as to what intelligence they will communicate to the public. They may obviously receive intelligence which it would be most improper to communicate, and I wish it to be distinctly understood, in consequence of the numerous questions which have been put upon this subject, that the Government feel it to be their duty to reserve such intelligence as they think ought to be reserved. They will, as I promised the other night, communicate to the public any intelligence of interest of which it is not desirable that the Government should retain the exclusive knowledge. It is true that a telegraphic despatch has been received which was not communicated to the public, but it simply asked a question about the movement of certain vessels. In point of fact, the substance and purport of all the intelligence of public interest which, up to this time, has been received by telegraph, has been communicated to the public in the answers which have been given in this House.

MR. ROEBUCK

I dare say, Sir, it will be in the recollection of the House that this day week I put a question to the noble Lord at the head of Her Majesty's Government, in reply to which the noble Lord told me that orders had been sent to Lord Raglan to make daily reports to the Government, by telegraph, of the state of affairs in the Crimea. The question I now wish to ask the Frst Lord of the Admiralty, in the absence of the noble Lord (Viscount Palmerston), is, whether any report of any kind has been received from the Crimea by means of the telegraph; if so, whether there was somebody able to read it; and if that be the case, whether any portion of it can be communicated to the public?

SIR CHARLES WOOD

I do, Sir, not quite understand the question of my hon. and learned Friend, but I have stated already that the substance of every telegraphic despatch received since the telegraph wires were laid down has been communicated to the House.

MR. ROEBUCK

Then I would ask my right hon. Friend whether a further telegraphic despatch will be sent to Lord Raglan, requiring him to send some information to this country?