§ VISCOUNT MIDLETONMy Lords, I wish to ask the noble Lord the Under-Secretary of State for India a Question of which I have given him private notice—namely, how soon we may expect to have the Papers with regard to Mesopotamia. Your Lordships will probably desire to be in a position to debate them before the Whitsuntide recess.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (LORD ISLINGTON)My Lords, the Papers which will deal with the representations made by General Townshend to General Nixon are in course of preparation, and I anticipate and hope that they may be laid before your Lordships in the course of a few days. In regard to the Papers which deal with the whole of the operations in Mesopotamia, those, as your Lordships will understand, entail considerable correspondence with India and with the Departments concerned. Steps are being taken to accelerate their preparation, but I am afraid that at this juncture I am not in a position to give anything in the nature of a precise date as to when those Papers will be issued.
§ VISCOUNT MIDLETONWe know that there is a large correspondence, technically private telegrams, on which a great deal of business is done. Could we be told whether any of the private telegrams which passed between the Viceroy and the Secretary of State for India will be included?
§ LORD ISLINGTONI am afraid that, without notice, I am not in a position to give a definite reply to that question. I will, however, make inquiries, and if an answer can be given I shall be glad to furnish, it to the noble Viscount either privately or across the Table to-morrow.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMay we take it that His Majesty's Government do not anticipate that Parliament will be in a position to discuss this question until after the Whitsuntide recess?
§ LORD ISLINGTONI am not prepared to say. The noble Viscount asked when the Papers will be laid. It is impossible at present to give a precise date or to say whether the Government will be in a position to lay them on the Table of Parliament before the Whitsuntide recess, but steps are being taken to accelerate their preparation.