§ VISCOUNT MORLEYMy Lords, I wish to ask the noble Marquess the Leader of the House whether the Government are prepared to lay before Parliament such Papers as may be thought advisable and as public curiosity may demand with reference to the unfortunate and laifientable affair at Kut.
THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (THE MARQUESS OF CREWE)My Lords, I hope that at an early date certain Papers will be forthcoming for publication which will enable the noble Viscount, if he so desires, to raise a Parliamentary discussion on the question of the Mesopotamian Expedition. It clearly would not be possible for me now to indicate the scope or nature of those Papers, but I can assure him that they will be laid as soon as possible.
§ VISCOUNT MORLEYI hope that we may expect to see what may be regarded as vital Papers—those concerning, first of all, the extension of the Expedition to Baghdad; and, secondly, the carrying out of that policy of advance— I mean supply, transport, and so forth. I venture, with all respect and every allowance for difficulties, to hope that we may have those Papers soon.
THE MARQUESS OF CREWEI entirely agree that the public are entitled to have the fullest information that can be supplied, consistently with the necessity of safeguarding military operations, not merely in regard to the two subjects which the noble Viscount mentioned, but from the earliest date at which it was decided to undertake military operations in Mesopotamia. I can assure the noble Viscount that the Papers will be as complete and full as is consistent with the obligation which I have mentioned, and I trust that no time will be lost in placing them in the hands of the House.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYI suppose the noble Marquess cannot give us any idea how soon the Government will be in a position to lay the Papers?