HC Deb 04 November 1919 vol 120 cc1307-8
41. Mr. BRIANT

asked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the charges of brutality and bribery in connection with the treatment of recruits in the Guards; and, in view of the prejudicial effect of such statements on recruiting and the reputation of the Army, if he will order an inquiry to be made as to the truth of the allegations?

Mr. CHURCHILL

I cannot undertake to order an inquiry into allegations of the vague and general dharacter of those to which the hon. Member refers.

Mr. BRIANT

Are not some of these cases given categorically with the names of the persons concerned and all the evidence connected therewith?

Mr. CHURCHILL

I have not read the book in question myself, but I do not believe that I should be justified in ordering an inquiry of this character because a book has been published by an individual containing a number of accusations.

Captain TERRELL

Will the right hon. Gentleman flatly contradict these statements?

Sir C. WARNER

Is there any means by which false statements may be corrected, and the injury to the Navy and the Army which this book and the consequent article in the "Times" will bring about can be stopped?

Sir J. D. REES

Had not the system which produced the best Infantry in the world better be left alone?

Mr. BRIANT

Should I be in order in raising this question on the Army Estimates this week?

Mr. SPEAKER

That is for the Chairman of Ways and Means to decide.