§ SIR LEWIS M'IVER (Edinburgh, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether Brigadier General Rolland was removed from his command as Brigadier on the ground of alleged apathy and inaction in what is known as the Royal West Kent Regiment case; and, if so, whether the Secretary of State can name any specific act or omission on the part of Colonel Rolland justifying this charge: and whether he can state anything in the matter which Colonel Rolland could have done, or ought to, have done, and which he failed to do.
§ LORD G. HAMILTONThe ground upon which Colonel Rolland was removed from his command in connection with the gross outrage committed at Rangoon in April, 1899, was that, being in immediate command at Rangoon, and primarily responsible for discipline at the station, he showed an apathy and inaction which conduced to a miscarriage of justice. His case was most carefully considered by the Commander in Chief in India, by the Government of India, and by myself in Council; and, in allowing Colonel Rolland to remain in the Service, I adopted the most lenient course that was open to me under the circumstances.