§ MR. PARNELLasked the Secretary of State for War, If his attention had been called to a speech of Major General Pakenham, at Plymouth, on the occasion of the departure of the Royal Marines for Ireland, to the effect they—
Must remember it was not entirely the fault of the poor Irish people themselves that so much turmoil was rife in that country, but owing to the unscrupulous conduct of certain political agitators;and, whether he approved of military officers making political observations of such a character?
§ MR. CHILDERSIn reply to the hon. Member, I have to state that the attention of the Duke of Cambridge was called to the language used by General Pakenham on the occasion to which the Question refers, and that his Royal Highness expressed, in a letter to General Pakenham of the 20th of August, his disapproval of that language. To this letter General Pakenham has returned a fitting expression of regret. I entirely approve of the course taken by the Commander-in-Chief.