THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE WAR DEPARTMENT—QUESTION. (Hansard, 2 June 1854)

THE EARL OF ELLENBOROUGII

said, 1231 he wished to put a question to the noble Earl at the head of the Government relating to a subject which had been brought under their Lordships' consideration by a noble Earl (Earl Grey) on a previous occasion—it was the subject of the constitution of the various military departments to which was intrusted the conduct of the war. There had been for some time reports which had appeared under circumstances which entitled them to great consideration—indeed, to belief—that it was the intention of Her Majesty's Government, after considering the subject, to propose that the office of Secretary of State for War should be separated from the department of the Colonies. If that announcement were true—and he trusted it might prove so—it was to him a subject of great gratification, and he could congratulate the country on a measure which might materially influence the conduct of this war. He would also venture to congratulate the noble Duke now at the head of the two departments—indeed, to offer him double congratulations—in the first place, that he would be able for the future to devote his whole and undivided attention to what was the most important subject that could be committed to any man—the conduct of a war; and, in the second place, that he would escape the annoyance of being connected with the Colonial Department. Upon that subject he must say that, although there should be one Member of the Government to whom solely would be confided the conduct of the war, and who would solely be responsible for all details—for that, he trusted, was understood—still, he did not desire that, at the present moment, any further step should be taken. He thought they had better pause—that it would not do to break up a number of different departments in the State of very great importance, all connected with the conduct of the war, and that it was most advisable at the present moment, when they were in the presence of an enemy, to take no step which was not absolutely necessary—to make no movement in the way of change which was not dictated by clear experience and urged upon them by most important considerations. It would be for the Secretary of State who would have the sole conduct of the war to see whether there was any conflict of authority, and to communicate at once to his Colleagues, and, if necessary, to Parliament, the existence of any obstacle to the execution of those orders which he might think it necessary 1232 to give. He (the Earl of Ellenborough) could not doubt that he would receive the full support of his Colleagues and of Parliament, and that it would be the determination of Parliament and of the country that the responsibility of the conduct of the war should rest upon one head, as the power rested in one hand, and that no one, whatever office or position he might fill, should interfere in any manner to impede the public service. It would not do in difficult times to have men in office of whom he might express himself in these terms—"injussu interpretari qui malunt;" indeed, divided authority was as undesirable to a Minister as cordial support was the reverse. While he said that, he must at the same time express a hope that it would not be considered necessary to create any new establishment of civil clerks to carry on the duties of this new department. He had no faith in the public competition of clever young gentlemen who passed a good examination, and who on that account were placed in offices of the highest class. What the Secretary for the War Department wanted was, not an office of civil clerks, but a military staff. Every duty which he had to perform could be better performed by military officers placed under him, having entirely his confidence, selected from the various departments of the service—engineers, artillery, cavalry, and infantry—men who had served in various parts of the globe, and were acquainted with the actual duties of a war; the business could be better managed by them than by any civil clerks it would be possible to find. There would be one other advantage in carrying on the business of the new department by officers of the Army; they might be sure that they would preserve the most absolute secresy. It was a matter of honour with an officer to keep absolutely secret anything that was confided to him. He would also venture to suggest for the consideration of the Government that he thought it would be most undesirable to make any military change that could be avoided; but might it not he advisable to place under the Secretary for the War Department all the military in England, as well as the military abroad? He believed that at the present moment the disposition of time regular troops in England was within the power, nut of the Secretary for the War Department, but of the Secretary of the Home Department; and on all occasions where the Secretary for the War Department might think it necessary to send troops to 1233 reinforce the stations abroad, it was necessary to communicate with the Secretary for the Home Department, who was in possession of those troops. He might he under a misapprehension on this subject, but he could not but think that it would undoubtedly be most desirable that the military arm of the country, at home and abroad, should be in one hand. He could not omit to say that the Secretary of War could not but consider himself in reality, as he was officially, the head of both services, and competent to dispose of the naval as well as of the military forces of the country. If there should be a diversity of opinion or any disunion between the authorities at the head of the military and naval services, especially in a war which must be carried on. by combined operations, the greatest inconvenience and detriment to the public must ensue. He had now to refer to another matter, which concerned more the Members of the Government than the public generally. At the same time, he must say that it would be to him a subject of satisfaction, and he thought it might be conducive to their convenience, as well as to the convenience of the public, if this constitution of a war department were not to lead to the addition of any new person to the Cabinet, or to any alteration in the distribution of official duties. It might be found possible enough for a time—at least as an experiment—to discharge the duties of the Colonial Department with the duties of some other department that was not overburdened.