MR. HANBUEY (Preston)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether Despatches were received from Sir Charles Warren, dated 6th and 13th July, 1885, giving the military history of the Bechuanaland Expedition, and mentioning the names and services of the principal military officers who assisted in that Expedition; whether Sir Charles Warren's Despatches of 25th August and 18th November of the same year, mentioning the civil and political services rendered by officers and others, have been laid upon the Table; whether any reason exists for publishing the latter, and omitting to publish the former Despatches; and, whether a Copy of the Despatches of July 6th and 13th will be laid upon the Table?
§ THE SURVEYOR GENERAL OF ORDNANCE (Mr. NORTHCOTE) (Exeter)(who replied) said: The Despatches of the 6th and 13th of July, 1885, were confidential Reports by the General commanding the Expedition on the various officers and services under him. It is not customary to present such Despatches to Parliament.
§ MR. HANBURYsaid, he had been told that the Reports were not confidential.