MR. BRIGHTsaid, it might be thought that he should have addressed the Question of which he had given notice to the Secretary of State for the Colonies; but as the Despatches to which it related were not in the Colonial Office, it had appeared to him that the question would be more properly put to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. He would, therefore, beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman, Whether he will undertake on behalf of the Government that all Despatches and all information received at the Admiralty and the War Department connected with the recent transactions in Jamaica shall be laid before the Royal Commission now sitting in that island?
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, I think my hon. Friend has taken the proper course in asking the Question that stands in his name on the Notice Paper. As the Jamaica Commission has already made considerable progress in the inquiry, I think it will be better that I should state what has already been done with reference to the despatches alluded to by the hon. Member for Birmingham. Sir Henry Storks as Chief Commissioner is in command of the forces in Jamaica, and he is therefore the military superior of all the officers that have been concerned in the recent occurrences, and all despatches written by officers of the army are at his command and in his possession. With regard to the despatches written by the naval officers the case is different. The naval 1501 officers are not under the command of Sir Henry Storks, and the Admiralty have felt themselves constrained not to direct Admiral Hope to make over the documents written by the naval officers. They have adopted this course as the despatches were written by the officers at the command of their naval superiors, and without being warned not to criminate themselves. What the Admiralty have done is this. They have directed Admiral Hope to give all the information and assistance in his power to the Commissioners in conducting the inquiry.
MR. BRIGHTI beg to give notice that, unless the despatches are produced either in Jamaica or here, I shall bring forward a distinct Motion to have them laid on the table of the House.
MAJOR STUART KNOXsaid, he wished to know why the same rule was not adopted with reference to the army as in the case of the navy? The former were compelled to give up documents that may criminate them, and the latter were not.
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERThe despatches and documents affecting officers in the navy are in the hands of the highest naval officer at Jamaica, and the documents affecting the army officers are in the hands of the chief military officer, who also is the head of the Commission.