§ 45. Mr. JAMES HOPEasked the Prime Minister why Sir Arthur Paget was unable to assure General Gough, in answer to his communication of 20th March, that the duty as ordered him and his brigade consisted of the maintenance of order and the preservation of property, and did not involve the initiation of active military operations against Ulster?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am informed that Sir Arthur Paget considered that the matter had passed out of his hands, as he learnt that the officers had already been summoned to London before he had time to deal with their letter.
§ Mr. JAMES HOPEAt what time did Sir Arthur Paget receive the communication dated Curragh, 20th March, and signed by General Gough?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI cannot say exactly at what time, but my answer remains good.
§ Mr. CASSELIf this question had been answered, might not the whole difficulty have been avoided?
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTIs Sir Arthur Paget or any other officer entitled to give assurances as to the future action of the Government?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is covered by the new Army Order.
§ Mr. AMERYCan the right hon. Gentleman explain how Sir Arthur Paget could have telegraphed the number of officers who preferred to be dismissed if he had not received General Gough's letter before that telegram on the night of 20th March?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI did not say he had not received it.
§ Mr. JAMES HOPEWas it not possible for Sir Arthur Paget to interpret his own instructions as conveyed to the officers?
§ The PRIME MINISTERHe thought, as I have said, that the matter had then passed out of his hands.
§ 52. Mr. HUNTasked the Secretary of State for War whether medical stores were ordered for or sent to Ulster; and whether bridging sections were ordered for or were actually on the way to Ulster during the late crisis?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am informed that the reply to both parts of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI wish to ask the Prime Minister the question, of which I gave him notice yesterday: Whether he will cause judicial inquiry to be made into the naval and military movements recently contemplated by the Government in connection with Ulster?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am not sure that I understand exactly what is meant by "judicial inquiry." In any case, I see no ground for such a mode of procedure. If the charge which is made outside, that the Government have devised and organised what is called a "plot" with the object of provoking an armed rising in Ulster, is seriously made by responsible persons here, the proper place to make it and to meet it is the House of Commons. I need not say that I will give the earliest possible day for that purpose.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that already statements made by himself and his colleagues as to the facts have been proved to be false, and have not been defended by the right 764 hon. Gentleman himself, although he has had the opportunity, and what guarantee can we have that a similar line will not be taken always?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am not aware of anything of the kind. If the right hon. Gentleman is prepared to make and sustain that allegation I will give him the earliest possible day.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that I have twice-made it in his presence, and that he has twice had the opportunity of dealing with it?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAm I to understand that the right hon. Gentleman does not want to have a day?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that what we wish and what the country wish is that the truth should be told in regard to this matter, and that it is only when we get the testimony of those who are directly employed by the Government that we can get it?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not know-on what authority the right hon. Gentleman claims to speak on behalf of the country. I have offered him, and I repeat the offer, the earliest possible day for the discussion of the whole matter.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman when he proposes to lay upon the Table of the House the White Paper which he has promised, and whether it will contain what we have so often asked for, the written statement by General Paget as to the instructions which were verbally given to him by the War Office, and the communications which he made to his officers?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe White Paper is in course of preparation, and will, I hope, be laid to-morrow, or as early as possible, and then the right hon. Gentleman will see what it contains.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWWhen we see the Paper we shall consider what steps it is worth while to take. In the meantime, 765 will the right hon. Gentleman kindly tell us why, if he has nothing to be ashamed of, he objects to have the truth tested, where the statements are given on oath, and can be established?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThis, Sir, is an allegation against the honour of Ministers, and the only place, in accordance with our constitutional practice, in which such allegations can be made—[HON. MEMBERS: "What about the Marconi Inquiry?"] the Marconi Committee?—a roving inquiry to discover whether or not you have the materials for a charge—the only place in which, in accordance with our constitutional practice, allegations of this kind can be made is this, the inquest of the nation.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe right hon. Gentleman has not answered my question. Why is he afraid to have the facts tested where not only Ministers but others concerned are on oath, and are subject to examination?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am not in the least afraid. If the Leader of the Opposition on his responsibility makes a charge against the honour of Ministers, he must make it in this House.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that I have already accused him of making a statement which was false, and that he has refused to take advantage of the opportunity of either explaining—[Interruption.]
§ Mr. J. WARDI would like to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he could not himself put down a Resolution relating to this subject, so as to make the Opposition—[Interruption.]
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEWill the right hon. Gentleman now state to the House whether he still adheres to the statement he made in the "Times," and which appeared in the form of a letter signed by himself?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNothing appeared in the form of a letter, but I adhere to all the statements.
§ Mr. HUNTWill the right hon. Gentleman say what is his objection to our having 766 evidence of the officers who really do know what happened, and how are we to get at the truth if we cannot have their evidence? May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, if he will not allow us to have that evidence, is it not the fact that the Government are afraid?
54. Mr. F. HALL (Dulwich)asked the Under-Secretary of State for War when Colonel J. G. Hogg, D.S.O., joined the 4th Hussars; when he was appointed to the command of the regiment; whether at the time he was the junior major; if he-passed over Majors Underwood, Graham, and Watkin, P.S.C.; if so, on what grounds; and on whose report or recommendation Colonel Hogg was promoted over the heads of senior officers possessing high military qualifications?
§ Mr. TENNANTColonel Hogg joined the 4th Hussars in February, 1896, and was appointed to the command on 13th May, 1913, by the Selection Board in the ordinary way
Mr. F. HALLMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman why it was that he received different treatment from the officers of the 16th and 5th Lancers?
§ Mr. TENNANTI do not know what different treatment the hon. Gentleman refers to. He was promoted in the ordinary way.
Mr. F. HALLIs it not a fact in regard to the trouble in the Irish command lately that Colonel Hogg received treatment different from that of other officers in the command?
§ Mr. R. HARCOURTMay I ask why this question was not raised at the time of Colonel Hogg's promotion instead of some weeks after, and whether the only reason for the Opposition not taking this course—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member can not be expected to answer that question.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIs this gentleman the same Colonel Hogg to whom the First Lord of the Admiralty sent a" telegram recently?
§ Mr. TENNANTThat is a question which should be addressed to the First Lord of the Admiralty.
§ Mr. J. WARDI would like to ask if this is the officer who refused to go on strike at the suggestion of the leaders of the Opposition?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI sent no telegram to Colonel Hogg. It is for the hon. Gentleman to say how he obtained his information that Colonel Hogg sent a private telegram to me.
§ Mr. ROBERT HARCOURTMay I ask whether the only offence of this officer is that he showed undue willingness to conform to his military duty?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat question does not arise.