§ MR. HANBURY (Preston)asked the Secretary of State for War, On whose advice and responsibility it was decided not to hold a preliminary inquiry in the case of Major Templer; who is responsible for the employment of Detective Straid, who is stated in sworn affidavits to have endeavoured to collect evidence as to identity by bribes, and generally for the manner in which evidence was collected; who presented the evidence so collected to the Deputy Judge Advocate General for his opinion as to a primâ facie case; who is responsible for the General Regulations dealing with the admission of foreigners and other privileged persons to inspect Government arsenals and works, and for the Special Regulations or Orders, if any, under which the balloon arrangements were shown to Italian officers in Egypt by Major Whistler Smith, and at Chatham by Major Elsdale; what is the post to which Major Elsdale has been transferred; out of what moneys is the compensation to Major Templer to be paid; and, whether any portion of it is to be paid by those officials responsible for the blunder?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)A preliminary inquiry was held to ascertain if there were primâ facie grounds for further proceedings. A formal Court 1218 of Inquiry was, from the circumstances, considered useless; and the only inquiry which could be satisfactory to the Department, and to the accused officer at the same time, was held to be a court martial, taking evidence on oath. Detective Straid was employed under the orders of the Director of Criminal Prosecutions, and the evidence generally was collected by the Legal Department of the Treasury. All the correspondence on the subject, with the statements of witnesses who were prepared to testify, was referred to the Deputy Judge Advocate General by the Adjutant General's Department at the War Office. The Secretary of State is responsible generally for the Rules under which foreigners are admitted to Government works. There were not any Special Regulations under which the Italian officers were admitted to view military balloons. Major Elsdale has been transferred to ordinary corps duty. With reference to the last two paragraphs of the Question, it is not contemplated to pay compensation to Major Templer; but his costs will be paid, and the money will be provided in Votes 3 and 10.
§ MR. HANBURYMay I ask what the right hon. Gentleman means by the Secretary of State being responsible generally for these Regulations?
§ MR. E. STANHOPEsaid, he meant that when Regulations for the admission of foreigners were made by a Government Department they were submitted for the approval of the Secretary of State.
§ MR. ANDERSON (Elgin and Nairn)asked, by whom the preliminary inquiry was held; and whether, before any arrest was ordered, any communication was made to Major Templer by the War Office or any other Department asking him to explain the circumstances of the charge against him?
§ MR. E. STANHOPEsaid, he would rather that Notice was given of the Question. Of course, the preliminary inquiry was made by the Military Authorities at the War Office.