§ 58. Major M'CALMONTasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that an Empire Day review of 1037 the Malta garrison is reported to have been held on 24th May last by the Commander-in-Chief, and to have been attended by the Prime Minister and the First Lord of the Admiralty, he will modify the instructions under which public schools corps are forbidden to attend such celebrations?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Colonel Seely)I would refer the hon. and gallant Gentleman to my reply to the hon. Member for Devizes on 29th April, from which he will see that the first and second parts of his question have no relevance to one another.
§ Major M'CALMONTMay I ask if the facts are as stated, that this was a military celebration of some kind?
§ Colonel SEELYQuite so. This was obviously a celebration of a high military character. It was ordered by the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Forces. The occasions on which I said we considered it undesirable for His Majesty's Forces to take part were celebrations of a purely civil character in this country.
§ Major M'CALMONTAre we to understand that there is no objection to military celebrations in this country on Empire Day?
§ Colonel SEELYIt has been repeatedly stated by the Prime Minister and myself and others that we considered it more desirable in this country to hold military celebrations on the King's Birthday.