§ 10 and 11. Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLasked the Secretary for War (1) 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 there flatly; that there were gentlemen who, like Mr. Keir Hardie, Mr. Andrew Carnegie, and various peace presidents, who 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; what action is contemplated in the matter; and (2) whether his attention has been directed to the remarks by General Count Gleichen, in which he said he was delighted to see that the Government proposed to bring forward a Bill for the care of the feebleminded, and that he would commend to their first charge Mr. Keir Hardie and Mr. Carnegie, and that he was sorry, from a military point of view, that wars and rumours of wars had instead died down just now; and, having regard to the place, the time, and the circumstances of this 1051 speech and the position of the speaker, what steps he intends to take in this matter?
Mr. BAKERThis officer has submitted a statement explaining that the published accounts of his remarks on the occasion referred to convey an erroneous impression of what he said. He has expressed regret for certain injudicious references. Appropriate action will be taken accordingly.
§ Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLCan my hon. Friend say exactly what this officer did say. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this speech was delivered by him in his official capacity as general commanding at Belfast at a formal ceremonial banquet, and were these expressions justified, especially having regard to the place in which they were uttered and the insults to these gentlemen?
Mr. BAKERI can only tell the hon. Member that whatever this officer did say he has expressed his regret for it, and further action will be taken.
§ Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLIf this gentleman had not been a German Count would he have been a British General.