ARMY—EUROPEAN GARRISONS IN CEYLON, &C.—RESOLUTION. (Hansard, 6 June 1867)

§ MR. OLIPHANT,

who had given notice to ask Questions with reference to the European Garrisons in Ceylon, the Straits Settlements, China, and Japan; and to make a Motion thereon, said, he had on a former occasion asked the Secretary for War, whether it was the intention of the Government to erect barracks for the troops at Point de Galle, when he received the reply that it was. Now, he thought it would not be difficult to show to anyone practically acquainted with the locality that that was a project which ought not to be entertained. The great desiderata in posting troops under such circumstances were their health and discipline; and these objects were to be gained by placing them in the healthiest parts of the country, and keeping them in as large bodies as possible—for distributing troops in small detachments over a country was most detrimental to their discipline. The system generally pursued in the East was exactly the opposite; it was to pick out the most unhealthy localities and distribute the troops in small detachments over those localities. This was notably so in Ceylon and the Straits Settlements. It was said to be the intention of the authorities to erect barracks at Point de Galle. In his opinion it was in the highest degree inexpedient to build barracks at Galle, as it was the most unhealthy station for troops in Ceylon. This could be proved by the health Returns, which showed a greater percentage of sick in hospital, and a higher death-rate than either in Colombo or Kandy. In the hill station of Newere Ellia, now used as a sanatorium for troops, there was 1683 a climate which long experience had proved to be as healthy as could be found in England. Newere Ellia would be soon easily accessible by a railway now in the course of construction. He held that it would be much better on every account to build the barracks there than at the place proposed by the Government. The hill station, where be had lived for many years, was very healthy; it was approached by good roads, and was within 100 miles of the sea. There was no strategical reason why the troops should be kept in the plain. He hoped to receive an assurance from the right hon. Gentleman that the proposed new barracks at Galle would not be built, and that the troops would be located at the healthy hill station. At any rate, he trusted that the right hon. Gentleman would assent to his proposition that the barracks at Galle should not be built until after the Report of the Select Committee upon the distribution of troops in India and the Colonies should have been received. He also hoped the Government would take the same course in regard to the new huts at Hong Kong, which he understood were about to be built at an expense of £20,000 upon a site the soil of which emitted a pestilential vapour. He also wished to be informed how long the 1,000 British troops in Japan were to remain there. These troops were quartered in barracks which had been built in the neighbourhood of Yokohama by the Japanese Government, who might expect that they were entitled to the services of these troops in quelling internal disturbances. We had no right whatever in the country, and he thought it undesirable that we should be mixed up in their internal affairs or be expected to assist the Government of the Shogoon because he had placed us under obligations to him. Again, our keeping troops in that country was an invitation to other Powers to set up military establishments in the island. It was therefore desirable that the right hon. Gentleman should give the House an assurance that our military force in Japan would soon be withdrawn. He trusted that the explanation of the right hon. Gentleman would be satisfactory; but in case of the assurances he asked for not being given, he should feel it to be his duty to divide the House upon the Motion of which he had given notice.

§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTON

said, he had not the least hesitation in giving the assurance asked for by the hon. Member; for it would be absolutely impossible for any arrangement to be concluded with reference to the construction of barracks at Point de Galle within a much longer period than would be required for the production of the Report of the Committee. With respect to the situation of any barracks which might hereafter be constructed at that place the Government had come to no decision whatever as to the locality, as that was a point upon which the Government could not presume to have an opinion to be compared with that of the hon. Gentleman opposite, who had had such a long local experience. Negotiations were going on between the Colonial Office and the authorities in Ceylon. The barracks were to be constructed at the expense of the colony, and he could not suppose that the authorities would place the barracks on a low and unhealthy soil if they could obtain a high and healthy one, if such a one were procurable. With respect to Japan, he had no hesitation in saying, on the part of the Government, that there was no intention of making any permanent military occupation there. It was, however, intended to keep a regiment, or wing of a regiment, at Hong Kong. The expenses of these matters were, however, included in the Estimates, and could be more conveniently discussed when the items came before the House.