§ MR. COBB (Warwick, S.E., Rugby)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to a statement publicly made in 232 several newspapers, that in September last, at Tranby Croft, Field Marshal H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, Lieutenant General Owen Williams, and Lieutenant Levett, were informed that Lieutenant Colonel Sir William Gordon-Cumming had cheated at a game of cards, and thereupon the three officers and others signed a paper agreeing to preserve silence as to the accusation, provided that Sir William Gordon-Cumming pledged his word never again to play at cards; whether the three other officers in question were guilty of an offence against the Army Regulations in signing a paper agreeing to preserve silence with respect to such an accusation; and whether it is intended to hold any Court of Inquiry into the conduct of the officers concerned?
§ *MR E. STANHOPEI have seen the statement referred to, and I am given to understand that it will shortly be the subject of a civil action; and I must therefore, in common fairness to all parties concerned, respectfully decline to make any observations whatever upon the case.
§ MR. COBBAm I, then, to understand that whenever circumstances which may have involved a breach of the Army Regulations are to be brought before the ordinary Courts of Law, the consideration of the question as to the breach of the regulations is to be postponed?
§ *MR. E. STANHOPEThe hon. Member is only to understand what I said.