§ MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state the circumstances which led Sir West Ridgway, the Governor of Ceylon, to entrust the inspection and review at the Coronation Parade to the late General Sir Hector Macdonald; will he state whether this action was taken with the sanction of the Colonial Office; and whether it was the duty of the Governor to be present at this function.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN, Birmingham, W.)The late Sir Hector Macdonald was present at the Coronation Review at Colombo, because he was at that time the General Officer commanding the troops in Ceylon. It was physically impossible for the Governor to attend, as he was at the time a royal guest at the Coronation here. In his absence the Lieutenant-Governor was present. The Colonial Office had nothing to do with the local arrangements, and was not consulted.