Lieutenant-Colonel Sir F. HALLasked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the statement by Viscount French to the effect that on the death of General Sir James Grierson, in August, 1914, he asked that Sir Herbert Plumer might be sent out to take command 1136W of the Second Corps; if the War Office instead sent out Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien; whether this was done on the advice of the chief of staff or on the initiative of the Secretary of State at the time; and if, in view of the importance of decisions on questions of personnel being entrusted to those on the spot with an intimate knowledge of the requirements of the situation, he will give an assurance that in such matters steps have now been taken to prevent the recommendations of those responsible in the field being overridden by the civilian control at the War Office on other than military grounds?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe appointment in question was made by the Government. I am afraid I cannot undertake to discuss, in reply to a question, the other points raised.