§ MR. ONSLOWasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he proposes to ask the House to agree to a Vote of Thanks to General Graham and Admiral Hewett for the recent operations in the Soudan; and, whether, according to the recent precedent of Lord Wolseley and Lord Alcester, he intends to advise the Crown to grant peerages on these two distinguished Officers, or to propose a grant to either of them in the shape of pension or "lump" sum?
MR. GLADSTONEIt is no part of my duty, and I have no authority, to limit the discretion of the hon. Member or of any other hon. Member in the House as to the Questions which they shall put to Ministers. But I really must appeal to the House whether in regard to Questions which are peculiarly matters of grace and favour on the part of the Crown the initiative is to be taken by Members of this House by putting Questions to the Executive Government. I do not suppose that it is the intention of the hon. Gentleman, but, in effect, his Question is a direct attempt to transfer the functions of grace and favour from the Crown to Members of this House. Upon all occasions of great military operations there are matters which the Executive Government has to consider when the proper time comes. I 1524 do not speak now of the particular services to which the hon. Member has referred in his Question, but I may say with regard to them that when the proper time comes Her Majesty's Government will take the course winch seems to them fitting in the circumstances without waiting for Questions to be put to them in this House. We are deeply sensible of the obligations of this House and of the country to General Graham and Admiral Hewett, and also to their gallant companions in arms.
§ MR. ONSLOWwished, in justification of his Question, to remind the Prime Minister that a similar Question was put with regard to the services which General Roberts and General Stewart rendered to their country in the Afghan War. He should repeat the Question on Monday nest.