§ MR. LAMBERT (Devonshire, South Molton)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether Lord Roberts's despatch of the 19th July, 1900, was before Lord Lansdowne when he reinstated General Colvile in the command at Gibraltar; also if he can state why Lord Roberts's despatch was not issued before instead of after the debate on General Colvile's case; and whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the finding of the Court of Inquiry into the Lindley disaster, which was the reason given for the recall of General Colvile.
§ *MR. BRODRICKLord Roberts is despatch was received at the War Office before Lord Wolseley recommended the reinstatement of General Colvile at Gibraltar. It is not customary to lay Reports upon individual officers on the 62 Table of the House unless they are quoted or specially moved for, and in this case I should not have thought it fair to General Colvile to depart from the rule in order to justify my action. I quoted from the Paper on Monday last and laid it at once. There is no objection to laving the finding of the Court of Inquiry which investigated the circumstances of the surrender at Lindley.
§ MR. LAMBERTWhen will it be laid on the Table?
§ *MR. BRODRICKIn a day or two.
§ MR. WINSTON CHURCHILL (Oldham)On what ground, if this finding is laid on the Table, are the findings of other Courts not to be laid on the Table?
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! That is a matter of argument.