§ LORD ELCHOsaid, the House was probably aware that during the late war two distinguished medical officers connected with the Army were sent by Her Majesty's Government to attend the manœuvres of the campaign in France, and to report generally with reference to the sanitary arrangements of the Army. He had reason to believe that the Reports contained matter which would not only be of interest and value to the Army, but likewise instructive to the civil population of the country. He wished to ask the Secretary of State for War, Whether he would consider the desirability of publishing these valuable Reports?
§ MR. CARDWELLreplied that there was a grave objection to publishing the Reports of officers who were commissioned to view the proceedings of foreign Armies. They were, of course, received with great courtesy, and their criticism, to be at all valuable, must necessarily be perfectly free and unreserved. He could not therefore give any pledge on the subject.
§ LORD ELCHOasked the right hon. Gentleman, whether he would look into the Reports and see if there were anything which, if published, could in any way be offensive to any foreign Power?
§ MR. CARDWELLsaid, he should be glad to consider anything which might be suggested to him for consideration; but lest he might be misunderstood he wished to say that the question was not as to the contents of any particular Report, but whether they were, as a matter of principle, when they sent officers to view the proceedings of foreign Armies, to publish their Reports, and whether they would get unreserved and valuable Reports in future if such a course were adopted.