§ * MAJOR SEELY (Isle of Wight)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether general officers commanding in-chief have been instructed to state their opinion as to the advisability of disbanding or amalgamating Volunteer units in their commands; and what steps he proposes to take in the event of his receiving recommendations to disband or amalgamate any such units.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThe Answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. As regards the latter part of the Question, it is impossible to say until the recommendations have been received and very carefully considered.
§ * MAJOR SEELYI beg to ask the Prime Minister whether in view of the widespread concern caused by, the issue of the War Office circular, upon which action is taken daily, he will put down the Volunteer Vote in Supply to give opportunity for early discussion.
§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, E.)I can give no pledge on the subject.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERNo action has been taken.
§ MAJOR SEELYI am sure the right hon. Gentleman would not wish to mislead the House. In point of fact, action was taken on Monday, when the 22nd Middlesex was examined. Every corps whose numbers are reduced under this order will be in expectation of disbandment.
§ MR. C. R. SPENCER (Northamptonshire, Mid.)Will action be taken this year?
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThat will depend on the reports received. Commanding officers have been asked to report whether, in the interests of economy and efficiency, in their opinion there should be amalgamations of any corps. No reports have been received, and when received they will be carefully considered. It is obvious that from time to time the distribution of Volunteer corps must be considered.
§ * MR. McCRAE (Edinburgh, E.)Will the right hon. Gentleman, in view of the statement made in another place, lay the circular referred to on the Table?
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThe circular referred to by Lord Donoughmore in the House of Lords is a very long one, and perhaps the hon. Gentleman will excuse me reading it. It shall be presented immediately.
§ * MR. McCRAEWhy was it communicated to the Press before being presented to Parliament?
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERIt was sent in the ordinary way to commanding officers. I was not aware it had been communicated to the Press.
§ * MR. McCRAEIt appears in the Press and is somewhat contradictory of the Answer given by the right hon. Gentleman yesterday.
§ MAJOR SEELYasked leave to move the adjournment of the House in order to call attention to a definite matter of urge it public importance—namely, the circulation by the Secretary of State for War of a Memorandum addressed to general officers commanding-in-chief, directing them to report as to the advisability of disbanding or amalgamating certain units under their command, and the immediate disastrous and discouraging effect of such circular.
§ * MR. SPEAKERI think the hon. and gallant Member has failed to notice that there is a blocking Motion on the Paper which covers the point he desires to raise. It stands in the name of the hon. Member for Bradford, "To call attention to the circular issued by the Secretary of State for War to officers commanding Volunteer battalions, and to the general condition of the Volunteer force."
§ MAJOR SEELYsaid the Volunteers were not specifically mentioned in his Motion, nor did he intend to mention them. He desired to call attention to the proposal of the Secretary of State to disband or amalgamate certain units.
§ * MR. SPEAKERThe Secretary of State for War stated a few minutes ago that there was no such intention on the part of the War Office; that the intention was to call for information from Volunteer officers before taking any action. In any case, I think the Motion would be covered by the words in the Resolution on the Paper, "The general condition of the Volunteer force."
§ MAJOR SEELYsubmitted that this was a matter of urgent public importance. It was not competent for the Secretary of State to say no order had been issued, because he was in possession of the terms of the order.
§ MR. C. R. SPENCER,as a Volunteer officer, appealed to the Prime Minister to use his influence with the hon. Member for Bradford to withdraw his blocking Motion, in view of the immense feeling, aroused on the question.
§ * MR. McCRAEasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of what had taken place 1127 he would reconsider his decision with regard to the Volunteer Vote in Supply.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI think the hon. Gentleman misunderstood my Answer. I gave no decision. What I pointed out to the House was that the number of Supply days remaining available are limited; and there are many subjects which hon. Gentlemen desire to discuss and which have more claim to discussion than the Volunteer Vote, which was largely discussed early in the session. Of course, if there is a general desire among those who have most right to speak to discuss the Volunteer Vote rather than some other subjects that would otherwise come up, and they are prepared not to press for these other subjects, I raise no objection.