THE MESOPOTAMIA MUDDLE.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13933, 16 July 1917, Page 3

THE MESOPOTAMIA MUDDLE.

: HEATED DEBATE IN HOUSE OF\j COMMONS ■ ... . 1 ; < '• .. T '- MR CKAMBERLAIN'S RESIGNAV TION. . •I ' .• * " ' STATUTORY TRIBUNAL ENQUIRY; PROMISED. ' (Per Cable—Press Association—Copyright.) (Austialian and N.Z. Cable Association i • LONDON, July 13. In the House of Commons, Mr Balfour announced that tlip Govqni'iient would '

adopt a proposal for a statutory tribunal to deal with both soldiers and civilians mentioned in the Mesopotamia report. ... .... •• j f rURftHER DISCUSSION. MR ASQUITII'S DEFENCE OF

IMPLICATED PERSONS, r , ticil A 1 > ~

(Australian and Reuter). Beccived July 15,. 5.5 p.m.' i ' LONDON July 14. In the House of Commons .during the Mesopotamia debate, Mr diaries Roberts said that Lord Jlardinge had been unjustly censored for a bold act of eouragCin facing a possible rising i„ i, the result revealing India's loyalty. ' Ml MaeNeil said that Lord Hardiugc's position in the Foreign Office, was unconstitutional and improper. Moreover, while under the shadow of a grave accusation Lord Harding/ had been put into the position'of "A Daniel coine to judgment," over the Irish administration, yet his faults compared )vith Mr Birrel's were as mountains to a morsel of sand, .

Mr Asquith said it' was clearly the general opinion of the House, that it would be unjust to take disciplinary action upon the report, It would, he altsurd to submit to any judge, the question of whether statesmen or ?Oi.l:ers acted upon miscalculation.' Th? House of Commons-was the oiilv tribunal to say whether such men had forfeited its ti'ust arid deserved censure. He considered that Mr. Chamberlain's chivalrous resignation was uncalled for. Mr Asquith added that not one step in the war had been more completely warranted, by every relevant consideration of strategy, and more strongly fortified beforehand by the absolute concurrence of expert authority, than the advance onj Baghdad. ' In these decisions lie' had no pi'irt', M Meii' lie learned of the decision he full} aud whole-heartedly approved, 1 Regarding the telegram, concerning the political advantages of the advance on Baghdad, it was a foul and wilful calumny to interpret it that the Government was eager for immediate success, in order to restore its waning fortunes, The only political considerations associated with the advance were the 'effect oil the general situation, especially the Turkish, Arab, Persian and Indian world. Mr Asquith partly defended Sir John Nixon, and added that the manner in which the report concerning the medical breakdown had been travest.ed, perverted, and exploited was one. of the most disgraceful incidents in the history of the degradation of the press. Mr Lloyd George said he associated himself with the. eloquent tributes to Mr Chamberlain. Nothing in the report" justified the resignation. Undoubtedly the report shows mismanagement, and thousands of gallant lives were lost in conditions of unspeakable torture.'-- Either the system or the individuals working it were blameable, and perhaps both. If individuals, they should be punished, but they must be entitled to a fair judicial investiga* tion. It would have been unfair had tjie Government acted upoii the report, If; the House desired a Statutory Committee of Enquiry, the Government was prepared to propose it, It was •i

absolutely indcfdusiblc thuMhe Jlouso. ami the Government should be discus-, sing such matters. ' JJe ' the House to ii'isc .-i|ljove these tluugs and niv to tlßvGoverniiicut; '' Oct on "With tie war," • ; ■

O.lier liicnibors spoke, aiul the motiqn

I lapsed. '. '...; \\ - In the, House' of 'LordsJ -Lord Loreburn blamed the Govciiiinciit ceeding with the Mesopotamia Expedition without fuir > Tliere were .no grounds for court-martialing ; the military concerned. -Regarding:. the civil servants, if the Government did not think they should 'remain, it could insist upon their resignation. Ministers should shoulder the responsibility of those censored.

Lord Curzoii said Ihe public''jiad a right to know where the blaihe lay. The press limit for victims had degenerated into a witch hunt. 1 ' Maiiy shiired the responsibility for, Mesopotamia. He believed the mistakes could have been avoided but for the radically unsound system of the Indian military administration.

. I ■ ' i'' INCONCLUSIVE DEBATE, PUBLIC LEFT IN IGNORANCE, (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association) Received July 15, 5,5 p.m. LONDON, July 1-1. The debate has left the public in ignorance as to whether the Government has decided upon 1 a staiu:ory commission regarding Mesopotamia,' Apparently it is unable to make, up its mind whether a tribunal is necessary,