§ 21. Mr. NUNN (for Major-General Sir ALFRED KNOX)asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office, with reference to the recent address to the cadets of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, by the President of the Board of Education on the subject of Indian constitutional reform, whether 988 there is any precedent for the delivery of an address at the Royal Military Academy or the Royal Military College by a Member of the Government on a controversial subject now before Parliament; and whether he will take steps in future to protect the students at the Government institutions from political propaganda?
§ Mr. HACKINGMy hon. and gallant Friend is under a misapprehension. The address in question was not of a political nature; it was intended to give the cadets at the Royal Military Academy an outline of conditions in India, which is a subject of importance to their education. As regards the remainder of the question, I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that there is no record of a Member of the Government ever having addressed the cadets on a controversial subject which was before Parliament, either at the Royal Military Academy or at the Royal Military College.
§ Sir W. DAVISONAre we to understand that no reference was made to the Government of India Bill by Lord Halifax in his address?
§ Mr. HACKINGI did not hear the address, but I understand that my Noble Friend was so careful, knowing that there were many in the audience who were opposed to his views, that there was not the slightest criticism of his address by anybody who listened to it.