Lords Sitting of 22 January 1886

Preamble
Several Lords—took the Oath.
BURMAH—MILITARY EXECUTIONS—— THE PROVOST MARSHAL.

  OBSERVATIONS. QUESTION.
  THE MARQUESS OF RIPON: My Lords, I rise to ask the Under Secretary of State for India a Question of which I have given him private Notice. It relates to certain statements which appeared in The Times yesterday from its Correspondent at Mandalay. Before proceeding to read the statements, I desire to say that, by asking this Question, I do not in the slightest degree imply any opinion on my part as to their correctness. They affect very seriously the character of a public officer, the Provost Marshal in Burmah. I do not know who this officer is; but the conduct attributed to him appears to me to be so unworthy of a British officer that I feel great confidence in expressing the sincere hope that these statements will ultimately turn out to be inaccurate. It is quite as much in the interests of the officer himself, as with a view of putting a stop to such proceedings, if unfortunately they are correctly reported, that I put this Question. I will read the statements as they appear in The Times of yesterday, and I am sorry to add that with respect to the first of them further confirmation appears to-day in other papers. The extract from The Times to which I refer is as follows:—
  "The Rev. Mr. Colbeck, the representative in Mandalay of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, has addressed a public protest to the Chief Commissioner against a recent attempt by the Provost Marshal to procure testimony against other persons from a Burman while he was covered by the presented rifles of a firing-party. Mr. Colbeck, who has long been resident in Burmah, declares that such proceedings cannot fail to bring shame and discredit upon our name, nation, and religion. The ghastly scenes which constantly recur in executions carried out by the Provost Marshal constitute grave public scandals. The Provost Marshal, who is an ardent amateur photographer, is desirous of securing views of the persons executed at the precise moment when they are struck by the bullets. To secure this result, after the orders 'Ready,' 'Present,' have been given to the firing party, the Provost Marshal fixes his

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  camera on the prisoners, who at times are kept waiting for some minutes in that position. The officer commanding the firing party is then directed by the Provost Marshal to give the order to fire at the moment when ho exposes his plate. So far no satisfactory negative has been obtained, and the experiments are likely to be continued. These proceedings take place before a crowd of mixed nationalities, and cannot fail to have a demoralizing effect on both soldiers and spectators."
  I am quite sure that the noble Lord opposite, and all your Lordships who have heard or read these statements, will agree with me that the proceedings attributed to the Provost Marshal are very outrageous, and deserve serious reprobation. Although I think it very unlikely that the noble Lord will be able to give me any positive information on the subject just now, I earnestly trust that my j noble Friend will make inquiry without delay into the truth of these allegations, so that if they are inaccurate, the character of this officer may be cleared, as I trust it will; but if, unhappily, they turn out to be correct, that measures may be taken not only to put a stop to those proceedings, but to mark in a most signal manner the sentiments of Her Majesty's Government with regard to them. There is one other matter to which I wish to refer. One would gather from those statements that a considerable number of persons are, at the present time, being tried by court martial and executed in Burmah. I will venture to suggest to the noble Lord opposite that he should very seriously consider to what extent there is legal warrant for trying persons within Her Majesty's Dominions who are not under the Mutiny Acts. Burmah has now been annexed, and is a part of Her Majesty's Dominions. I do not wish to express a positive opinion on that subject at present; but it is, I think, worthy of the careful consideration of Her Majesty's Government.
  THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Lord HARRIS): My Lords, in reply to the noble Marquess opposite (the Marquess of Ripon), I have to say that Her Majesty's Government have read with the greatest concern the account of The Times Correspondent at Mandalay with respect to these executions, and the manner in which they have been conducted. We have no information, however, at the present
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  moment, which will enable us to say whether these accounts are varnished or not. The noble Lord the Secretary of State for India, recognizing the concern which no doubt the public feel alike with the Government on this question, has despatched telegrams to Lord Dufferin and Mr. Bernard requesting information upon the matter, and asking that a strict and searching inquiry be made into the matter. As soon as this information is obtained, I shall have great pleasure in informing the noble Marquess. With respect to what he has stated as to court martials being held in Burmah, I would deprecate any discussion at the present moment, and until wo have further information about them.
  THE EARL OF KIMBERLEYsuggested that, as Papers were about to be presented on the subject of Burmah, it would be as well that they should be accompanied with a map of the country.
  LORD HARRISsaid, he would make inquiries as to that.

SIR WILLIAM ROSE, K.C.B., LATE CLERK OF THE PARLIAMENTS.

  RESOLUTION.
  THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY: My Lords, I rise to perform a sorrowful duty. It is to move—
  "That this House is deeply sensible of the loss which they have sustained by the death of Sir William Rose, K.C.B., the late Clerk of the Parliaments, and think it right to record the just sense which they entertain of the zeal, abilities, diligence, and integrity with which ho executed his important duties in that and other offices in the service of this House during a period of 50 years."
  My Lords, I have but little to add to the terms of the Motion. The loss of Sir William Rose has been regretted, I think, by all in this House. There are very few of us who have been here long enough to remember the time when Sir William Rose was not at this Table. His manner and kindness to all the Members of this House are well known. He was laborious and careful and exact in his duties. He possessed a profound knowledge of the precedents of this House, and of our customary law; and he was able to render services to the Members of this House in that capacity which we specially require. Owing to

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  the fact that our Speaker does not possess authority over us, and that the disposal of all Order in this House is immediately the work of the House itself, an authority like that, able and willing to furnish us with guidance, was of inestimable value. My Lords, I feel that I am only expressing the opinion entertained by all Peers in this House, on whichever side of the House they may sit, of the deep loss we have sustained by the death of Sir William Rose.
  THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY: My Lords, my noble Friend (Earl Granville) alluded last night in a touching manner to the loss we have experienced by the death of Sir William Rose. I only rise for the purpose of saying how heartily I concur in every word that has fallen from the noble Marquess. I have known Sir William Rose for very many years, both in his public and private capacity; and anyone more obliging, more attentive to his duties, or more anxious to assist everyone to obtain information, I think none of us have ever known. The House has sustained a very severe loss by the death of Sir William Rose, and I am sure that noble Lords will concur in every word that has fallen from the noble Marquess. I beg to second the Motion.
  Moved to resolve, "That this House is deeply sensible of the loss which they have sustained by the death of Sir William Rose, K.C.B., the late Clerk of the Parliaments, and think it right to record the just sense which they entertain of the zeal, ability, diligence, and integrity with which ho executed his important duties in that and other offices in the service of this House during a period of 50 years."—(The Marquess of Salisbury.)
  THE EARL OF LIMERICKsaid, he desired, on behalf of the younger and private Members of the House, to express their deep sense of the assistance which was invariably so kindly and constantly rendered to them by Sir William Rose.
  Motion agreed to, nemine dissentiente.
  House adjourned at a quarter before Five o'clock, to Monday next, a quarter past Four o'clock.