§ 53. Colonel WEDGWOODasked whether His Majesty's Government are sending more troops to Russia; and, if so, whether they are doing so without first trying to come to an accommodation with the Russian Government?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI can add nothing to what has already been said on this subject.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODI beg to give notice that, at the end of Questions, I shall move the Adjournment of the House.
§ At the conclusion of Questions—
§ Colonel WEDGWOODI beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House in order to call attention to a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, "the critical situation of our troops in Russia and the urgent importance of either relieving them or of entering into negotiations with the Russian Government." [HON. MEMBERS: "Which Government?"]
§ Mr. SPEAKERI am afraid that any such Motion would violate the Rule against anticipation. If the hon. and gallant Member will look at the Order Book he will find that the hon. Member for Chelsea (Lieutenant-Colonel Sir S. Hoare) has given notice for to-morrow of a Resolution which would certainly cover the hon. and gallant Member's Motion. Then the hon. Member himself has given notice of a Motion for a day not yet fixed which deals with the same question.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODOn that point of Order. I have been careful to draw my Motion so as to avoid confounding it with the Motion which I have put on the Paper. I want now to deal with the critical situation of our troops in Russia at the present moment and the urgent importance of either relieving them, or entering into negotiations with the Russian Government. I submit that that is not covered by my Motion or by the Motion of the hon. Member for Chelsea.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI think it is. The words of the hon. and gallant Member's Motion are that "British troops should be withdrawn from Russia at the earliest possible opportunity." You cannot get much nearer than that.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIt is a question of sending troops to relieve them. There fore it is entirely different. I submit that this is a matter which ought to be discussed in this House, because at the present moment our troops, we are told, are in a very dangerous situation on the Murman Coast and at Archangel—
§ Colonel WEDGWOOD—and unless we get the matter discussed in the House, we may be committed either to a disaster which we are told will be similar to the disaster at Kut, or to an indefinite expedi- 1650 tion, involving this country in hundreds of millions of expenditure or the loss of thousands of valuable lives.
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is not my business to enter into the merits in any way, nor do they enter into my consideration. I have simply to administer the Rules of the House. The Rule, as the hon. Gentleman knows, is that he must not anticipate a Motion of which due notice has been given.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODMay I leave out the first part—"to call attention to the critical situation of our troops in Russia?"
§ Mr. SPEAKERIs not that contained in the Motion of which the hon. Member has given notice, which says that the British troops shall be withdrawn from Russia at the earliest possible opportunity? The obvious reason for withdrawing them is that they are in a critical situation.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODI must bow to your ruling, but I submit that the critical situation of our troops in Russia is a new situation which has arisen since Friday last and that it is not in any way anticipated by either of the two Motions which stand on the Paper, which deal with a much wider and more general subject.
§ Mr. SPEAKERMajus in se, minus continet. It is open to the hon. and gallant Gentleman to take off his own blocking notice, and ask the hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for Chelsea to take off his. Then he shall have an opportunity later on.
§ Lieutenant-Colonel Sir S. HOAREI am quite ready to take my Resolution off the Paper. I put it down in all good faith last week and not in any way to block the hon. and gallant Gentleman.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODI beg to give notice that I will move the Adjournment of the House to-morrow.
Lieutenant-Colonel C. LOWTHERIs it not a fact that our troops are being relieved and that the expeditionary relief force is starting on Wednesday?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI have not the faintest idea.
§ Mr. PEMBERTON BILLINGMight it not be possible for the Leader of the House to make a statement to relieve the anxiety of people in this country and obviate the necessity for a Debate?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member might put that question to the right hon. Gentleman.
§ Mr. BILLINGMay I put the question to the Leader of the House whether he will make some statement to relieve the anxiety of the people of this country and obviate the necessity of moving the Adjournment?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThere is no statement which I can make to-day of any kind which would be of any value to the House.
§ Mr. BILLINGIs there any truth in the statement that a relief force is about to start?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIt is very undesirable that I should be expected, without notice, to give an answer to a question like that.