STATEMENT BY MR ASQUITH.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8508, 22 July 1916, Page 6

STATEMENT BY MR ASQUITH.

AN IMPORTANT DISCUSSION,

LONDON, July 20

Continuing the debate in the- House of Connuouu on Sir iiklward Carson's motion that, a Select Committee should be set up to inquire into the Dardanelles aim Mesopotamia campaigns,

Mi- J. Anna>n .fcryco said chat if the country knew the appalling facts of the hospital arrangements in Mesopotamia, no whitewashing committee would suffice.

Mr Lloyd George, Minister of War, said that henceforth the Army CoiinciJ would have complete control of the Commander-in-Chief in India in respect to the'conduct of the campaign. Abundant supplies were now at Basra, and the War Office was endeavouring to remedy the difficulties of sending them to the troops. The first duty was to put, matters right and second was to bring those responsible for negligence and incapacity ,to account. . Mr .Austen Chamberlain, Secretary for India-, said that in the event/-oi incompetence being proved, ..-the Government would act' immediately^ and would not await the Commission's findings. He denied that our misfortunes in Mesopotamia were dxie to financial niggardliness on the part of the Indian Government which was not responsible, The House or Commons voted the money for the expedition. Mr* Asquith's motion for tho adjournment was formally negatived.