HC Deb 18 June 1913 vol 54 cc369-70
43. Mr. KEIR HARDIE

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Count Gleichen, who is at present in command of the 15th Infantry Brigade at Belfast, is a naturalised British subject, and, if so, when and under what conditions he became such; and whether his father, the late Prince Victor of HohenloheLangenburg, was a British subject, and, if so, whether he was such by birth or by naturalisation?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. McKenna)

Gaunt Gleichen was born in the United Kingdom, and is therefore a natural-born British subject. His father was granted a certificate of naturalisation in the year 1848.

14. Mr. SWIFT MacNEILL

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been directed to a speech delivered at a Lord Mayor's banquet, given in the City Hall, Belfast., on the 7th instant, by General Count Gleichen, K.C.V.O., commanding the 15th Infantry Brigade, in which he said that a good many people were of opinion that this campaign of Lord Roberts' was being run with a view to what they called a reprehensible militarism, and that he contradicted them flatly; that there were gentlemen who, like Mr. Keir Hardie, Mr. Andrew Carnegie, and various peace presidents, said that because they had a big army they introduced militarism, and he concluded that people of that sort, however well-meaning they might be, could only be suffering from softening of the brain; whether such language contravenes the King's Regulations; whether it is in accordance with the rules of the permanent Military and Civil Services that a paid official should indulge in political invective of a partisan nature; and what action is contemplated in the matter?

Colonel SEELY

The report for which I have called has not yet reached the War Office.

Mr. SWIFT MacNEILL

When does the right hon. Gentleman desire me to put the question down again? I am not going to: let it drop.

Colonel SEELY

I cannot say exactly when I shall receive the report; no doubt it, will be in the course of a few days.

Mr. KING

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain this delay, considering that the speech was delivered on the 7th and we are now at the 18th of the month?

Colonel SEELY

Yes; I did not call for a report until my attention was drawn to the matter by questions in this. House.

Mr. MOORE

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman——

Mr. SPEAKER

The right hon. Gentleman has said that he has not got the information.