HC Deb 28 February 1881 vol 258 cc1864-5
MR. TOTTENHAM

gave Notice that to-morrow he would ask the Secretary of State for War, Whether the following paragraph of the Queen's Regulations had been cancelled:— Furthermore, officers and soldiers are forbidden to give publicity to their individual opinions in any manner tending to prejudge questions that may at the time be undergoing official investigation by the military authorities. If not, whether an article in "The Nineteenth Century," advertised as being written by Sir Garnet Wolseley, is the production of the Quartermaster General of the Forces; and further, whether an officer holding this high administrative appointment is justified in committing such a grave breach of the Queen's Regulations for the Army?

MR. CHILDERS

I will answer that Question at once. Of late years, and some time before I became Secretary of State for War, it has been the habit of the officers who are on full pay and may be holding high positions to express, either by word of mouth or in writing, opinions on important military questions. I am not prepared at present to take any especial notice of this practice, and certainly not of the article to which the hon. Gentleman has referred. But I think it might be well if on both sides of questions of importance, whether in connection with the Army or other public service, some more reticence were the rule. And, after some conversation which I have had with those whom I consult on subjects of this kind, I think that we may some day return to the old practice. But, meanwhile, I do not wish to take any notice either of speeches or articles, which for many years have been so frequent.