§ MR. BYLES (Salford, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to a public lecture lately delivered in Newcastle by Lieutenant-Colonel Baden-Powell of an alarmist character and couched in language likely to be offensive to a friendly Power; and whether he will do anything to restrain such utterances by senior officers in His Majesty's Army.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. HALDANE,) HaddingtonI have seen General Baden-Powell. My hon. friend is mistaken in supposing that this was a public lecture. The gallant officer in question was lecturing to a uniformed meeting of the Territorial Force, and was given to understand that no reporters were present. He prefaced his remarks with a few words on the German Army in view of its special standard of efficiency, which was a natural object of attention on the part of all keen soldiers. These remarks could not be construed as in any way offensive to the German nation, and it is to be regretted that any one present should have made such a report to the papers.
§ MR. J. M. ROBERTSON (Northumberland, Tyneside)Does the right hon. Gentleman assure us that the report is substantially inaccurate?
§ MR. HALDANEYes, I asked about that. But I am told that it is just the few words at the beginning, where he introduced a comparison between the two Powers, and on which the gallant officer hung the rest of his lecture.
§ MR. J. M. ROBERTSONWas he justified in speaking of Germany as the natural enemy of this country and in predicting a desperate and bloody war between the two countries?
§ MR. HALDANEI do not think that he said that. Certainly he did not tell me of it.