Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTI beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs a question of which I have given private notice: whether he has received from the British representatives in Tripoli any reports as to the wholesale massacre of Arab men, women, and children by the Italian troops; as to the refusal of the Italians to recognise the native population of Tripoli, defending their own country, as combatants; and the denial to them of the rights of war; as to the refusal of the Italians to respect the white flag; and as to the illegal use of the white flag and the red cross by the Italians; and whether it is the case that, as a protest against these barbarities, Mr. Francis MacCullagh, a British correspondent, has sent in his official papers as correspondent to General Caneva, refusing to remain any longer with the Italian Army.
§ Mr. ACLANDNo, Sir, I have received up to the present no report from His Majesty's Consul indicating that the events to which the hon. Member refers have taken place, and I have no knowledge of the circumstances in which the correspondent referred to may have returned his papers to the Italian military authorities.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTI beg to ask the Prime Minister a question of which I have given private notice; I have submitted the information upon which the allegations are based: whether, in view of the fact that the Italians are conducting the war in Tripoli by barbarous methods, contrary to the principles of the law of nations—
§ Mr. SPEAKERI do not think a question of that sort ought to be put in those terms with reference to a country with which we have friendly relations. Before the hon. Member asks the question he had better let me see a copy of it.
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt was a copy of the hon. Member's other question that I had seen. I was not aware that he had two questions.
§ Mr. DAVID MASONMr. Speaker, with reference to what has just taken place on the question of Tripoli, to-day being, as I understand, not an allotted day, would I be in order in asking leave to move the Adjournment of the House?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe limitation of not asking for leave to move the adjournment is confined to "allotted days." As this is not an allotted day it is open to the hon. Member to ask leave; but what is the point he wishes to raise?
§ Mr. D. MASONMr. Speaker, as you have just ruled that it is quite in accordance with the usage of this House—
§ Mr. SPEAKERWhat is the question for which the hon. Member asks leave?
§ Mr. D. MASONI am just coming to that. With reference to what has transpired in regard to foreign affairs in Tripoli—which, of course, we are all agreed is a matter of urgent importance—I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, so that that matter may be discussed in relation to The Hague Conference.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member will remember that the Standing Order says a matter of this kind must be definite. The hon. Gentleman has not named any definite subject?
§ Mr. D. MASONI submit that the atrocities in Tripoli, being a matter of urgent importance and of definite importance, affect both this country and mankind in general.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is altogether too vague. The Government are not responsible for the so-called atrocities in Tripoli.
§ Mr. D. MASONWith regard to The Hague Convention and our Treaty obligations, surely they throw a responsibility upon this House?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member should at least have taken the trouble to prepare the form of the question which he wishes to raise.
§ NEW MEMBER SWORN.—The Right Hon. Charles Edward Henry Hobhouse, for the Borough of Bristol (East Division).