§ MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he has now received a statement from General Manning; and whether he is now in a position to make the statement as to what the immediate military operations must be.
§ MR. BRODRICKhope General Manning's despatches will be circulated by the end of the week. As I told the hon. Member on Monday† weare now in communication with General Egerton, and are carefully considering what future operations should be undertaken.
§ MR. DILLONDid the right hon. Gentleman not promise on 30th April last‡ to make a statement as to the future operations as soon as he had an opportunity of considering General Manning's despatches.
§ MR. BRODRICKI cannot make a statement about the future operations until after the communications with General Egerton have enabled the Government to come to a conclusion.
§ MR. DILLONWill the Government announce their intention before Parliament adjourns?
§ MR. BRODRICKThat must depend upon whether the information we receive from General Egerton enables us to come to a decision.
§ † See (4) Debates, cxxv., 1141.
§ ‡ See (4) Debates, cxxi., 1004.
70§ SIR WILFRID LAWSON (Cornwall, Camborne)What is the ultimate object of those military operations?
§ MR. BRODRICKI think the hon. Member must know very well that the ultimate object is to prevent the Mullah front raiding our tribes, and so establishing disorder in the part of the country under our protection.