HC Deb 16 July 1903 vol 125 cc859-60
MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that two of the officers tried by Court-martial with reference to the incident at the Mount Nelson Hotel, Cape Town, while under † See page 571. constructive arrest pending the holding of that Court-martial, and after they had given their word of honour not to appear in any place of public amusement, were present at the races at Ascot; and, if so, will he state what are the names of these officers; and what action, if any, has been taken by the War Office authorities for this conduct.

*THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (MR. BRODRICK,) Surrey, Guildford

Will the hon. Member kindly refer to my reply to a similar Question put by my hon. friend the Member for East Finsbury on the 6th instant.†

MR. SWIFTMACNEILL

asked what were the names of the officers, and if any disciplinary action had been taken.

*MR. BRODRICK

Disciplinary action has been taken, but I do not think it necessary to go into details.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

I must press for the names. Has not one of the officers been gazetted a major?

*MR. BRODRICK

I must really decline to be cross-examined on a Departmental question of discipline in which the Commander-in-Chief has taken action.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

Was not Captain Williams one of the men, and has he not been gazetted major—[Cries of "Order."]

MR. SPEAKER

The right hon. Gentleman has declined to reply. It will be open to the hon. Member to comment upon that later.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

If I have an opportunity.

MR. FLAVIN (Kerry, N.)

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman say "Yes" or "No?"