HC Deb 14 March 1918 vol 104 cc484-5
Mr. BILLING

May I ask you, Mr. Speaker, a question with regard to the following question I desired to put to the Prime Minister by Private Notice: "To ask the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the disquieting statements by Sir J. Compton-Rickett, M.P., with reference to a pending Imperial crisis; also whether his attention has been called to the statement by Sir Auckland Geddes yesterday at Bristol to the effect that an invasion of this country by Germany is to be anticipated; and whether, under these circumstances, he will take this opportunity of taking the country into his confidence and either dismiss these alarming Ministerial statements or substantiate them in an appeal to the country, be that the people may realise the true gravity of the situation?"

On that point, Sir, you advised me that it was not the Prime Minister's business to take note of Ministerial statements. May I ask you whether, having regard to the fact that these statements have been given much prominence in the Press, and to the feeling in the country about them, the Leader of the House might not take this opportunity of dismissing them as irresponsible statements or substantiating them by making an appeal to the country for a special effort?

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member has done the very thing I told him he was not entitled to do

Colonel CLAUDE LOWTHER

Is it not a fact that the recent massing of vast German Armies on the Western Front has seriously altered the complexion of the War, and ought not the House to be called upon to discuss what is a very grave situation in the opinion of Ministers?

Mr. SPEAKER

I think that the hon. and gallant Member has mistaken both the question of his neighbour (Mr. Billing). and my letter to him in reply.