§ THE EARL OF WEMYSSBefore the House adjourns I wish to put a question to my noble friend the Secretary of State for War, of which I have given him private notice. It refers to a motion which I have put down on the Paper for a future sitting. I have given notice to move for a Return showing the state and organisation of our home defensive force on 20th February, 1900. I wish to ask my noble friend whether he sees any objection to granting such a Return.
§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNEI can assure the noble Earl that I am most anxious not to withhold from him or from your Lordships' House any information upon such points as those which are referred to in the motion of which the noble Earl has given notice, but I must add that I believe it would be contrary to usage and not in the public interest that the Return should be given, and if the 627 noble Earl moves for it I shall with much regret be obliged to ask the House not to give it to him.
§ THE EARL OF WEMYSSI must consider whether or not I shall move for the Return. I admit that the terms of the Return are unusual, but the times are unusual. My noble friend is busily engaged in creating an emergency army, and it is an emergency Return that I am asking for, and one which I think we ought to have. If I go to the Foreign Military Attachés in this country I shall no doubt be able to get the information.
§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNEThough I object to the Return, I shall be very glad to give the noble Earl, if he will be good enough to ask me for it, any information or access to any official documents he may desire.