HC Deb 25 February 1901 vol 89 cc1014-6
MR. BRYN ROBERTS (Carnarvonshire, Eifion)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War which were the two Colonial Corps among whom Lord Kitchener, in his telegram of 21st January, stated there had been insubordination; what were the periods of service for which the men who refused to march had engaged; and what was the cause of the insubordination.

MR. BRODRICK

Lord Kitchener gave a full account in his telegram of 21st December of the insubordination which occurred in certain South African colonial corps owing to a mistake in carrying out their discharge. He also in formed us of the way in which Lord Roberts dealt with it, and I think that quite sufficient notice has been taken of this matter, and I agree with Lord Kitchener's words—

MR. BRYN ROBERTS

I wish to know whether the rule of order which applies to questions—namely, that they must not involve matters of opinion— also applies to answers.

* MR. SPEAKER

As the hon. Member stopped the right hon. Gentleman I did not hear the whole of what he was going to say.

MR. BRYN ROBERTS

He said he agrees with something Lord Kitchener said. I never asked him that.

* MR. SPEAKER

As I understand the right hon. Gentleman in his answer was adopting some words used by another person, that is not out of order.

MR. BRYN ROBERTS

My point is, he is going further.

MR. BRODRICK

The words which I quote from Lord Kitchener are necessary in order to convey to the House the decision at which I have arrived. Lord Kitchener said, "It is considered a cruel thing to make public an incident which all regret and which subsequent brilliant services in the field of the South African force have entirely obliterated." I agree with those words, and I do not think it is in the public interest that I should ask the name of the corps.

MR. BRYN ROBERTS

The right hon. Gentleman has not answered the point—What was the cause of the insubordination?

MR. BRODRICK

The incident of the insubordination was a mistake in regard to the discharge of the corps, and the matter was fully explained in Lord Kitchener's telegram. I confess I think that further reference to it is absolutely unnecessary.

MR. BRYN ROBERTS

That is not the question. The right hon. Gentleman does not explain what I want to know. I am entitled as a Member of the House to an answer giving the information I ask for—namely, for what period of service were these men engaged?

MR. BRODRICK

I do not know the period of service, because I have not asked for the name of the corps. I may remind the House that the hon. Member brought this accusation against another corps which he named without any justification.