HC Deb 05 July 1900 vol 85 cc621-2
MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether he will explain why the explantion given by Sir Redvers Buller in his despatches on the Spion Kop disaster, with reference to his failure to exercise proper control over General Warren, was not included in the published portions of those despatches, and will he state why the remarks of Lord Roberts conveying a censure on Sir Redvers Buller for abstaining from the assertion of his authority as the officer in chief command over General Warren were published, while Sir Redvers Buller's explanation of the circumstances under which he so abstained has been withheld from the public.

*THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. WYNDHAM,) Dover

The Secretary of State published without omission two despatches from Sir C. Warren, and two covering despatches from Sir Redvers Buller. He also published Lord Roberta's comments on these four documents. He did not, as, I pointed out in debate, publish a number of other documents, including one from Sir Redvers Buller, which was marked by him "not necessarily for publication."

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)

And was that Sir Redvers Buller's explanation of his conduct with regard to Sir Charles Warren? Yes, or no?

*MR. WYNDHAM

I have no intention of re-discussing the exercise made of his discretion by the Secretary of State.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

We will discuss it on the Estimates.