THE MESOPOTAMIA REPORT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14354, 20 July 1917, Page 3

THE MESOPOTAMIA REPORT.

LORD HARDINGE'S POSITION". (Australian and N.Z' Cable Association.) LONDON, July 18. In the House of -Commons Mr Bonar Law said the - Government was not proceeding further with the inquiry into the Mesopotamia report. The Army Council would deal with soldiers m the Ordinary way. Lord 'Harding, "liad thrice offered to resign, but liis offers had been refused. Mr Bonar Law said the Government was influenced m its Mesopotamia decision by the undesirability of the distraction of attention of the Legislature at this critical time from the prosecution of the war. Oh- the Foreign Secretary's representations the Government had decided that it would be detrimental to' deprive the Foreign Oflice of Lord Hardinge's servit.es. Mr Dillon obtained leave to move the adjournment to discuss the, .Government's refusal to accept Lord Hardinge's resignation. Mr Dillon said the refusal to accept Lord Hardinge's resignation in-; volved a great principle as to Ministerial responsibility, and it was the only means the House of -Commons had of exercising influence over the Government. Mr Chamberlain had resigned, although un*-' censured. Yet Lord Hardinge, who was responsible m an infinitely greater de-' cj.ee, was allowed to remain.. All -should bo equally treated' Lord Hardinge, because ho stood well m society and was supported by powerful influences, was' 'allowed to ride off ih liohdrV They had learned something m regard to ilie Dardanelles .report that would be? very unpleasant. Something had yet to. be learned of the* Gaza operations. Mr Balfour heatedly defended Lord Hardinge, and tliat he would resign if the House disagreed with his advice to the Government. Tlie House of Commons defeated the .motion for adjournment by 176 to 81. I

LONDON, July 10. . There is a widespread suggestion among members of the House of Commons, m liiscussing m the lobbies' the' speech made hy "_c-rd Hardinge m reply to charges made against him m the report' on the Mestpotaihian operations, that the Ijlame is attachable to' the system rather Mian to those manipulating it, and that culpability should not have been fixed so definitely on the Individuals- mentioned m the report as upon, those, who im•pecled the reorganisation of the Indian Government. It is anticipated that the debate irt the .-liouse of Commons will load to a Government promise of drastic reforms m thb Indian administrative system. Lord Hardinge's speech is criticised In the newspapers mostly m a tone of moderation and restraint. Vone writer says: "Lord Hardinge distributes the blame, but does, not escape it." ■- ■ *- . -■• " . The Daily Chronicle states ..that his defence is decidedly weak, especially m regard to river transport- and the 12 months' delay m barge buildingi. ' The Daily News re-marks- that the speech In nowise diminishes the disquieting effect of the report: 1 The Morning Post, m a leader headed "The Soldier Beguiled- Me," says-. "The speech reminds one of an unhappy attempt to shift responsibility,; of which Mesopotamia is again the scene. The man blamed tlie woman, and the latter blamed tlie serpent, ahd judgment was pronounced upon all three. The Home Government is old Adam, the Government of India is the official Eve, and General Nixon the serpent. Obviously the blame for the equipment of the expedition and tho spirit with which it was supported does not lie with the soldier. The decision to advance to Bagdad wa"*> undertaken m circumstances showing Lord Hardinge's obsequiousness to tlie Home Government 1 ." The opinion is, .expressed that My. Asquith 's cunning manoeuvre m .appointing an inter-departmental committee led to the overshadowing of the experts, who were against the advance.