§ MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether it is a fact, as stated by the Athenœum, that Colonel Hammond has been instructed to prepare for publication an expurgated edition of the History of the Second Afghan War, compiled by Captain S. Pasfield Oliver, R.A., under the orders and supervision of the late Sir Charles Mac Gregor, when that officer was Quartermaster of India, which was printed in six volumes by the Intelligence Branch of the Quartermaster General's Department at Simla and Calcutta: and, if so, what objection there is to this history being now published in extenso, in order that Military students may learn the entire truth of the origin and conduct of that war?
§ SIB J. FERGUSSONA revised edition of the work referred to has been prepared under the orders of the Government of India. It included originally confidential papers which, in the opinion of the Government of India and of the Secretary of State, ought not to be given. The usefulness of the book is quite independent of those confidential papers.