HC Deb 01 June 1908 vol 189 c1546
MR. J. M. ROBERTSON (Northumberland, Tyneside)

; I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that General Baden-Powell is reported to have delivered, on or about the 22nd May, an address to members of the Territorial Army and their friends at Sunderland, at which members of the Press were requested by the chairman to take no notes; and whether he will give instructions that at such unreported, but virtually public, meetings officers of the Army shall not indulge in language calculated to set up unfriendly relations between this country and foreign Powers.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)

Has the right hon. Gentleman considered the precedent made by the late Mr. Edward Stanhope, when Secretary for War, in respect of a political speech delivered by Lord Wolseley, which he said he could not justify, and informed Lord Wolseley so?

MR. HALDANE

There was no dispute about the speech made by Lord Wolseley, which dealt with a matter as to which there was considerable controversy in those days, namely, Home Rule, and Mr. Stanhope very properly said it was not the business of any officer to express opinions on that subject on a public occasion. But this case is quite different. Here there is a question as to what really happened. My attention has not been drawn to the incident mentioned in the Question. No instructions of the nature suggested in the Question are considered necessary.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

Were not the reporters ordered not to take notes?

MR. HALDANE

I believe not.