§ 47. Mr. William Teelingasked the Prime Minister why the rules about the wearing of emblems denoting Mention in Despatches, published in paragraph 11 of the White Paper, Cmd. 7035, make no provision for Mention in Despatches for services during the South African War; and about how many people are thus affected.
§ The Prime MinisterAn emblem was instituted to denote the award of a Mention in Despatches in the First World War, and a similar emblem was created during the recent war. The rules in paragraph 11 of the White Paper, Cmd. 7035, extend this arrangement to operations in the intervening years, after the grant of an emblem had become to some extent a recognised principle. No emblem for Mentions in Despatches was in existence before the First World War, and it is not proposed to take any retrospective action to alter that state of affairs. I have no information showing how many people would be affected by such retrospective action in relation to campaigns before August, 1914.
§ Mr. TeelingDoes the Prime Minister realise that there are a large number of people, who would not be much more than 66 years of age at the present time, who did very good service in earlier days, and who feel that if this privilege concerning Mention in Despatches is accorded those who served in the later wars, there is no reason why they should not he allowed the same right?
§ The Prime MinisterI think it is rather undesirable to have retrospective legislation carrying us back a very long way, and I really do not see why I should necessarily pick out the survivors in a matter of this kind. I think it would probably be much better to go on a general basis.
§ Mr. TeelingDoes not the Prime Minister appreciate that these elderly people—may be, it is their weakness—are quite proud of what they did in that war? Is there any reason why they should not be allowed this privilege?
§ The Prime MinisterAfter all, I think the honour is the Mention in Despatches and not the emblem. I believe it is a mistake to go back on these things.