§ Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINI beg to ask the Prime Minister a question of which I have given private notice. If any excuse is needed for putting myself forward and asking a question which I believe will express the general wish of the House, I plead the fact that I was for some time the guardian of the public purse. My question is whether the Prime Minister has seen Captain Scott's last request message to his countrymen, and whether the Government will give favourable consideration to the appeal made by Captain Scott on behalf of the dependants of those who, in his own words, "Have given their lives to this enterprise, which is for the honour of our country"?
§ The PRIME MINISTER(Members being uncovered): We are all at this moment under the deep impression produced by reading the last message of Captain Scott—one of the most moving and pathetic 718 utterances in the annals of discovery of a brave and enduring man face to face with a tragic but noble end to a career of self-devoting service. I can only say that his appeal will not fall on deaf ears.
§ Lord CHARLES BERESFORDMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has any later information of the lamentable catastrophe to the Scott Antarctic Expedition; whether he can give the names of those who have perished; whether there are any survivors; and, if so, can he give their names?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe only official news I have is contained in the following telegram from Commander Evans, "Terra Nova," Christchurch, received this morning:—
Regret report deaths of Captain Scott and Petty Officer, First Class, C. Edgar Evans, 29th March and 17th February, 1912, respectively.Captain Scott and Petty Officer Evans were serving in the Royal Navy. Hon. Members have read in the papers news, which I am afraid is true, of the deaths of Captain Oates, 6th Inniskilling Dragoons; Dr. E. A. Wilson, principal scientific member of the expedition; and Lieutenant H. R. Bowers, Royal Indian Marine. As far as we know, all other members of the expedition are safe.