§ COLONEL NOLAN (Galway, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief leaves to the discretion of commanding officers to determine what amount of braid or other ornaments may be worn on the caps or tunics of troops, or if such matters are settled by a Central Authority at the Horse Guards or War Office; and if it is only on such details of dress as touch on the wearing of national emblems that commanding officers may use their discretion?
§ * MR. E. STANHOPEIn answer to the first question, those details are clearly laid down in the published Regulations of the War Office.
§ COLONEL NOLANThe right hon. Gentleman has not answered the second part of the question.
§ * MR. E. STANHOPEIn answer to the second part of the question, the discretion of the commanding officer clearly applies.
§ COLONEL NOLANDoes it only apply in this case?
§ * MR. E. STANHOPEAll matters outside the Regulations laid down by the War Office are at the discretion of the commanding officer.
§ COLONEL NOLANI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if, where commanding officers use the discretion permitted to them by the Commander-in-Chief, and do not forbid by General or Regimental Orders, or otherwise, the wearing of shamrock on St. Patrick's Day, in such cases it is or will be permissible to officers junior to commanding officers to order the removal of the Irish emblem?
§ * MR. E. STANHOPEThe commanding officer of a corps is responsible 368 for the conduct and discipline of all its members, and he will exercise absolute discretion in the matter.
§ COLONEL NOLANBut if the colonel of a regiment has made no order whatever, will the captain be in a position to exercise such authority?
§ * MR. E. STANHOPEI have already answered that question. None of these emblems can be worn without the permission of the commanding officer.