HC Deb 21 April 1902 vol 106 cc801-2
MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will state why the statement which Sir Charles Warren laid before the Commander-in-Chief when he was withdrawn from his command in Natal, has not been included in the Spion Kop Papers; and what explanation (if any) has the War Office to offer for withholding this document from publication.

MR. BRODRICK

This statement did not form part of the despatches and has not, therefore, been published. Sir Charles Warren's Report was written on 27th January, 1900, and the statement alluded to in the Question was dated 6th August, 1900, many months after Sir Charles Warren had left Natal. It is obvious from the published despatches that a grave difference of opinion existed between Sir Redvers Buller and Sir Charles Warren, the two senior officers responsible at Spion Kop, and Lord Roberts in reviewing the whole action distributed criticism impartially between the two. His Majesty's Government, having published the despatches as forwarded to them at the time, are not prepared to publish further statements from either of the officers involved, impugning each others conduct or justifying their own share in these operations.

MR. CLAUDE LOWTHER

asked whether the statement in question did not controvert General Buller's adverse crisicisms; and whether it did not throw added light on the matter.

Mr. BRODRICK

I am not prepared to say what was the nature of the statement laid before the Commander-in-Chief by Sir Charles Warren; but it would be impossible, in regard to military despatches, to allow officers who may consider their conduct to be impugned to retaliate by entering into recrimination with those who have made the Reports of which they complain.

MR. CLAUDE LOWTHER

Why were the despatches of General Buller published?

* MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! That is a matter of argument.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

Will Sir Charles Warren be allowed to publish the documents to which he refers in The Times today?

MR. BRODRICK

No, he will not be permitted to publish Papers relating to officers engaged in any of the operations.