§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith): I beg to move, "That leave be given to bring in a Bill to constitute Special Commissions to inquire into the conduct of operations of war in the Dardanelles and into the conduct of operations of war in Mesopotamia."
1359§ This Bill was promised last week to constitute Special Commissions to inquire into the conduct of the operations in the Dardanelles and in Mesopotamia. The form of the Bill is on the precedents of the Special Commission Acts of 1888, of 1885, and of the Metropolitan Police Commission of 1886. This Bill for this, the first inquiry since the War started, follows the lines of those Acts. Having regard to the special conditions of this inquiry we propose to insert a Clause empowering the Commissioners to consider whether their proceedings ought to be in public or in private.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLDoes that discretion mean in any particular case or generally for the whole inquiry?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI think in any particular case; of course, that may include a great deal. Provisions are inserted authorising persons to be represented by counsel. One particular novel and very important provision of this Bill is that which is necessitated by the special conditions of the case and full provision is made for sittings of the Commission in India. It is very undesirable that when the Commission are in India they should not exercise compulsory power to command the attendance of witnesses, and the production of such documents as they may require, and so forth.
§ Sir JOHN JARDINEIs that in Mesopotamia as well?
§ The PRIME MINISTERMesopotamia is not subject to civil law. As the military authorities are dominant there it is not necessary to make special provision for that yet. If sittings are required elsewhere—if, for instance, sittings in respect of the Dardanelles are required in Egypt or any Crown Colony—the necessary provision is made to empower the Commissioners, by Order in Council, to require the attendance of witnesses. In regard to my hon. Friend's question about Mesopotamia, as it is not under British sovereignty, the military authorities will be relied upon to order any persons subject to military law to attend the Commission. I think the Bill ought to be circulated in order that its provisions may be ascertained before we proceed to a general discussion of the measure, and I will put it down for to-morrow.
1360 Bill to constitute Special Commissions to inquire into the conduct of operations of War in the Dardanelles and into the conduct of operations of War in Mesopotamia, ordered to be brought in by the Prime Minister, Mr. Bonar Law, Mr. Lloyd George, Mr. Chamberlain, Mr. Balfour, and the Attorney-General. Presented accordingly, and read the first time; to be read a second time To-morrow, and to be printed. [Bill 71.]