§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether there is any prohibition against officers on full pay or on active service corresponding with newspapers; whether any such rule has been relaxed during recent campaigns, either in favour of officers generally or in favour of particular officers permitted or appointed by commanding officers to act as correspondents; whether officers so permitted or appointed are relieved from any military duties, and are permitted to receive pay as correspondents; and, whether officers so acting are free to say what they think fit on their own responsibility, or their communications are subject to the control and approval of the commanding officer?
§ COLONEL STANLEYWith regard to the first point, I have to say that officers on full pay are prohibited from corresponding with the newspapers; but it appears, from the answer which has been given by my hon. Friend the Under Secretary of State for India (Mr. E. Stanhope), that the rule had been relaxed in certain instances. Of course, officers in India are not, so far as I am informed, directly under the control of the War Department. With regard to the third and fourth Questions, I could only answer them as a matter of opinion, and my opinion is probably not worth more than that of other persons.
§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLHas the rule been relaxed with regard to officers serving in South Africa?
§ COLONEL STANLEYCertainly not, so far as I am aware.