MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Under Secretary for War a question of which I have given him private notice—Whether the copy, issued in this morning's papers, of the telegram 170, dated March 28th, from the Secretary of State for War to Field-Marshal Lord Roberts is a full and complete copy of the telegram as actually sent; and if not, has any and what part of the telegram been omitted or altered.
§ * THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. WYNDHAM, Dover)We have published every line and every word which has passed between the Secretary of State for War and Field Marshal Lord Roberts in reference to the despatches on Spion Kop which have been published. I ought to add that obviously we have not published any references to those documents which, rightly or wrongly, have not been published. To have done so would have been to stultify our actions and to mislead the House, because the references would have applied to documents not published.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)May we understand that this telegram of March 28th is the first telegram in reference to the publication or non-publication of these despatches?
§ * MR. WYNDHAMYes, Sir, certainly.