§ Captain CLIVEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War the names of the companies of which Colonel Morgan, C.B., D.S.O., is to remain a director after taking up his appointment at the War Office; on what date that appointment commenced; and if he can yet say whether the retention of these directorships is consistent with the placing of his whole time at the disposal of the War Office?
§ Colonel SEELYThe War Office is in correspondence with this officer with regard to the directorships which he may retain without detriment to the efficient performance of his duties at the War Office. As I stated last Tuesday, he will not be permitted to retain any directorship which may interfere with his duties
§ Captain CLIVEWill the right hon. Gentleman answer the second part of the question—"On what date the appointment commenced"?
§ Colonel SEELYI cannot say on what date the appointment will commence until the correspondence to which I referred in the first part of the answer is closed.
§ Captain CLIVEThe appointment has not commenced yet?
§ Colonel SEELYNo.
§ Mr. MORRELLWill the House an opportunity of considering appointment before it is finally firmed?
§ Colonel SEELYI think the House has considered it a good deal at question time already.
§ Mr. WEDGWOODasked whether the duties of Colonel Morgan will include the recommending the use and purchase of particular food-stuffs and the introduction of new food-stuffs to a large market; and whether some other officer could have been found who would do this as well as Colonel Morgan and receive more general confidence in any recommendations he may make?
§ Colonel SEELYThe reply to both parts of my hon. Friend's question is in the negative.
§ Mr. MORRELLasked the Under-Secretary for War what manner Colonel Morgan, who has just been appointed to an important post by the Secretary of State, has completely cleared his character in a court of law; whether he is aware that the Report of the War Stores Commission, which contained grave reflections on Colonel Morgan's conduct, was published after the conclusion of the libel actions referred to; and whether, since the publication of that Report, any steps have been taken in a court of law or otherwise to clear Colonel Morgan's character?
§ Colonel SEELYI do not think I can add anything to the information I gave to the House on the 16th instant explaining the attitude of the Army Council towards this case.
§ Mr. MORRELLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that when he informed the House last week that this officer had completely cleared his character before a court of law he was in fact, though no doubt unintentionally, misleading the 133 House; that this officer brought his libel actions before the publication of the report, and since the publication of the report, although the officer several times threatened libel actions against newspapers on account of the statements they made against his character, he has never dared to issue a writ?
§ Colonel SEELYNo; although I am much obliged to the hon. Member for saying, of course, that I did not do so intentionally, I do not think I did mislead the House. Immediately after the statements against this officer's character had been made, so far as I am aware, he took the first possible step to meet them by bringing libel actions, and these libel actions he won.
§ Mr. MORRELLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that, after the report had been issued, Colonel Morgan actually threatened, through a letter from his solicitor, a libel action against a well-known newspaper, and the newspaper published the letter of the solicitor with a two-column heading the next morning, and the writ was never issued and no further action was ever taken?
§ Colonel SEELYNo, Sir; that is the first I have heard of these circumstances. I cannot keep pace with all that happened; it is so very long ago. I do know that. Lord Robson, who was concerned as counsel in one of the actions, and as counsel antagonistic to Colonel Morgan, holds the strongest view, and is anxious it should be publicly stated that he considers this officer has completely cleared his character, and in fact has suffered a real injustice.
§ Lord BALCARRESMay we have the text of Lord Robson's minute on the subject?
§ Colonel SEELYThere has been no minute, but I have had a communication from Lord Robson, who is most anxious it should be communicated to the House. I will ask him to write me a letter, and I may find a convenient occasion to read it to the House, perhaps in reply to a question.
§ Mr. CHIOZZA MONEYMay I ask whether, apart from Colonel Morgan's private character, his business connections would not make it extremely difficult to carry out the duties of his new office?
§ Colonel SEELYI am glad the hon. Member has asked that question. It would be obviously most improper that Colonel Morgan should retain directorships involving business connections of a character that would conflict with his duties in any way. As regards that and the kind of duties he is to perform, the Secretary of State has laid down that he must resign all directorships that would be in any way concerned with the duties to be laid down for him and to be carried out by him. These duties will be, of course, to help the Secretary of State to make better arrangements for feeding the soldiers. That is the sole object of the Secretary of State, and, if it is possible, he very much wants to do it. If Colonel Morgan holds any directorships having any remote connection with his duties, ho will resign them. I am assured of that.
§ Mr. KILBRIDEWill Colonel Morgan make inquiries with regard to the present conditions of feeding soldiers with foreign meat at the Curragh Camp?
§ Colonel SEELYI have no doubt he will make inquiries and communicate the result to my hon. Friend.