§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether it is in accordance with the rules and practice of the service for an officer still serving in the Army to instruct his solicitors, as Colonel Morgan has done, to write to the Secretary of State for War letters with reference to the publication and the merits of a Departmental Report reflecting on his conduct; had Colonel Morgan, before taking this step, the sanction of the War Office authorities; and, if so, under what circumstances was that sanction given; whether, having regard to the fact that the better, dated June 19th, from Colonel Morgan's solicitors to the right hon. Gentleman, commenting on the Butler Report, has been published in the Press with his consent, why has his consent, solicited by Colonel Morgan in that letter, to send the complete correspondence to the Press, containing a letter from Colonel Morgan's solicitors on May 31st, protesting against the publication of the Butler Report, been withheld; and whether he will now publish, or consent to the publication of, the complete correspondence between himself and Colonel Morgan's solicitors on the subject.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERColonel Morgan has been permitted, since the 369 commencement of his civil actions for libel, to communicate with the War Office through the medium of his solicitors. Permission was granted to Colonel Morgan's solicitors to publish the letter of June 19th in the Press. The correspondence on this special feature of the case consisted of the above-quoted letter and our reply there to.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLIn the letter which the Secretary of State allowed to be published there was a distinct reference to a letter written by Colonel Morgan's solicitors on May 31st, protesting against the publication of the Report. Will the right hon. Gentleman lay that letter on the Table or allow it to be published?
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERI have no power to prevent its publication.