§ Mr. HUNTI want to bring forward the complaint of five ex-soldiers "who served her late Majesty Queen Victoria at the Battle of Abu Klea. They protest against the statement made by Mr. Wilfrid Blunt, which was published in his book and reproduced in "The Times" of October 19th.
The complaint is that Mr. Blunt used these words:
These English soldiers are mere murderers. What are they? A mongrel scum of thieves from White-chapel and Seven Dials. I desire in my heart to see every man of Stewart's host butchered in their turn and sent to hell.333 I believe Mr. Blunt is supposed to be an Englishman, as well as a British subject, and the House will observe that he wanted not only to kill them in this world but to damn them in the next. It is worse than the accusation of the slaughter of 11,000 children in South Africa made by the present Chancellor of the Exchequer. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] Well, it is perfectly true, and I think, if it is possible to do it, some notice ought to be taken of this man's statement.Attention called to the fact that forty Members were not present. House counted, and forty Members being found present—
§ Mr. HUNTI think that British soldiers should not be exposed to abuse of this sort which is not only untrue, but hopelessly disgraceful. In fact I might call it foul abuse. I do not know what the powers of the Government are in such a case, but I understand that Mr. Blunt is a magistrate for the county of Sussex and also a deputy-lieutenant. If the Government have power to do so, I certainly think he ought to be taken off the Commission of the Peace, and that he ought no longer to be a deputy-lieutenant. There cannot be anything much meaner than a man who has never fought for his country, as I understand this man never has, abusing men who have been through a very severe campaign against admittedly very brave, resolute enemies, in a very dry and awkward country to fight in. I hope I hat the Under-Secretary of State for War will do anything he can to uphold the honour of the British Army, especially of the British private soldier who has been so very unjustly accused by this man.
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY Of STATE for WAR (Colonel Seely)It might have been thought better, perhaps, to treat the abominable slander to which the hon. Gentleman has referred with the contempt which it deserves, but since the matter has been raised it may be as well in a few words to repel the attack which has been made. The statement made is that the British soldiers who fought at Abu Klea were murderers, and it goes further and accuses the whole class of soldiers of being scum recruited from our great cities. As regards the Egyptian campaign, not one shadow of proof has ever been attempted of any allegation of cruelty on the part of our troops. That the battle of Abu Klea was a desperate one everyone knows. That the losses were severe we 334 all remember, but no one, before these absurd and ridiculous words were penned, ever suggested that our troops who fought so hard and well were guilty of inhumane conduct. There are several hon. Members of this House, in all quarters of the House, who were present at that battle. If it were necessary, I know they would get up and testify to the fact that in this battle, as in all battles, the British and Irish soldier, whatever the merits of the conflict, has always been renowned for humanity. With regard to the general accusation of this person, whose book I have not been able to obtain, I am glad to say, he accuses the British soldier in effect of being a mongrel scum who comes from a slum. He accuses him, in fact, of being poor. The British and Irish soldier is a poor man very often, and comes from a poor dwelling, and he is born very often of poor parents, but if he has the drawback of poverty, he has also, as we all know, in abundant measure the merits which the poor of Britain and Ireland have.
The House will not wish mo to dwell for more than a moment upon the merits of the soldier, but when his character and conduct are called in question I may be permitted to say this: that throughout all these past years every official report has testified to the good conduct of our soldiers in the field. I may add one personal word. As one whose privilege it has been to serve alongside all ranks of the British Army in all parts of the British Empire, I would like to be permitted to say that the British soldier is brave in battle, but he is quick to forgive his enemies, more so perhaps than any soldier that the world has ever seen. He is undoubtedly generous to a fault. He is undoubtedly a man who is tender to women and who loves and is beloved by every little child. This man who is so traduced, however poor he may be, is not one who can be described as the scum of the earth, but if I might be permitted to say so, he is the salt of the earth. I do not suppose that the House will wish me to take any further notice of this vile accusation by a man knowing nothing of the facts against a class of men who, in order that he may sit in luxury and write those lines, suffered and fought and died for their country. On the particular point which the hon. Gentleman has raised, whether it is possible to take any action against him, I say nothing. If it be possible to remove him from the Commission of the Peace, or any other office, I have no doubt everyone 335 in this House would be only too glad. I will make a representation to that effect in another quarter, to see whether it will be possible to do that. I seem to remember something as to the difficulty of proving libel against a class, and I do not know whether action of the kind will be possible; but, if it be possible, steps will be taken. But whatever can be done in that respect, the severer condemnation will be to leave this gentleman—or, at any rate, the writer of this slander—to the condemnation of all honourable men.
§ Mr. BOOTHWith all due respect, I think it is very much to be regretted that the hon. Member opposite should, in this way, have, advertised such a vile utterance.
§ Adjourned accordingly at Two minutes after Twelve o'clock.