THE DARDANELLES AND MESOPOTAMIA

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2830, 22 July 1916, Page 9

THE DARDANELLES AND MESOPOTAMIA

MR. ASQUITH AND THR INQUIRY

OPPOSITION CRITICISM FORESTALLED

Australian-New Zealand Cable Association.

(Itec. July 21, 9 p.m.)

London, July 21. The House of Commons was .crowded tor the debate on' Sir Edward Carson's motion for a Select Committee .to inquire into the conduct of the Dardanelles and Mesopotamia campaigns. r - Asqiiith unexpectedly announced the Government's intention to appoint Commissions, with power to sit in secret and inquire into both matters, Australia bein| represented in the matter of the Dardanelles. lie said that ho recognised that the widespread and legitimate anxiety in regard to the Dardanelles and Mesopotamia could not be ' allayed by general assurances of inquiry after the war. But owing to the present' critical phase of., the military operations, the Government deprecated a debate which would give the world the impression that we were divided amongst ourselves. He did not desire to conceal past- shortcomings or screen those who were responsible.

There were manifest objections to the • Belcct Committee, which would lay a great burden on Departmental officers. Moreover, the Generals, Admirals, and other officers required to give evidence were already dispersed over a wide field, and it would be.impqssiblc.to.recall them to London. The Government, there&ire, proposed to set 'up two Commissions, consisting of memtiers of the House of Commons and of the Lords, and, if necessary, an outside member. He would shortly introduce a Bill, naming the Commissioners, and giving them compulsory powers. Sir E. Carson withdrew his motion. He understood from the Premier's statement that Sir William Robertson (Chief of the General Staff) and Mr. Austen ■Chamberlain (Secretary" .of State for India) were satisfied that everything was being done to remedy .the. disastrous state of affairs in Mesopotamia. ,He wa£ confident that Sir TVilliam Robertson was a 'nan not to be influenced by politicians. Mr., Asqui'th moved the adjournment of the House, understanding that the debate was to be oonflned to his statement.

Mr. Winston Churchill said he hoped the inquiry would. be held as much in public as possible. Mr. Asquith,■ in -.reply to Mr. Churchill's suggestion, said-the Commission would sit in secret if necessary. , Mr. J. Annan Bryce said that the country knew the appalling facts about the. hospital arrangements in Mesopotamia. 1S t o whitewashing, by a committee would suffice.

Mr. Lloyd George (Minister of War) said that henceforth the Army Council would have complete control over the Commander-in-Chief in India with respect to the conduct of the campaign. Abundant supplies were now-at Basra. The War Office' was endeavouring to remedy the difficulties, and were sending supplies tn the troops. .The.Government's first duty was to put matters right, and, second, to bring those responsible . for negligence and incapacity to account., Mr. Austen (Secretary of State for India) said that in the event of incompetence ljeing proved, the Government would act immediately, and rot await a commission's findings. He denied that the misfortunes were due to financial niegardliness of the-Indian Government,., which was not responsible. The House of IV.nimons voted the money for . vlie expedition. . . Mr. Asquith's motion was formally negatived. . . STRONG CRITICISM"IN THE LORDS ; " A GAMBLING VENTURE " (Rec. July 21, 9 p.m.) London, July 21. In the House of Lords, the liarl of VVemyss raised the question of 'the Mesopotamia expedition, and- moved for an inquiry into the whole campaign. Many people believed that.it was a gambling venture. The riioment the Dardanelles campaign failed, the Mesopotamia venture ought to have been abandoned. A madder undertaking could not have been imagined than for 12,000 troops to advance 500 miles against the full force of the Turkish Army. The Maiquis «f Crewe (Lord President »f the Council) said that it was imperative, during the critical moments of August, 1914, to reassert our paramount position in the Persian Gulf, and go counteract the German campaign, which was seeking to induce a Holy War. It wag .necessary to support the faithful Arab chiefs, and our presence in the Gulf saved tho Empire from a near approach to-a great disaster. It was also necessary to consider the great Moslem, people of Africa, who might easily have been aroused against .us. Lord Islington (Under-Secretary for India) stated that all-the troops in Mesopotamia were now. fully rationed, except for a shortagu of vegetables and milt. Political considerations would not allow of the Government over-ruling the advice of its military advisers in connection with tho campaign. ■ Lord Islington added that Sir James Nixon (Sir Percy Lake's predecessor in the Mesopotamia command) undoubtedly believed that he could carry out his operations successfully. General Townshend had never questioned, in any correspondence to which the Government had access, his capacity to do it. It was apparent that General Nixon had underrated his difficulties. _•. The motion was carried.