Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-14
DEFENDS Findings
IN ARMY DISASTER
Member of British Mesopotam-
ian Commission Says White
wash Report Was impossible.
NO ONE TO BE SHIELDED
By the Associated Press.


LONDON. July 14.-When the debate
on the Mesopotamia report was resum-
ed In the house of commons yesterday
Sir Archibald Williamson. member of
the commission that Investigated the
findings. Full justice could not be done
to the report. he said. without consid-
ering the evidence on which the COM
mission acted, and the details when
published would deepen the said i'm
preston created by the report.
1t was unfortunate. Sir Archibald de-
clared. that the commission should be
held up to obloquy as II 1t had gone
out of It's way to do injustice to the
men called before 1t. He defied any
man to derive the same result from the
Mesopatamia report as contained in
mission had been unable to bring In
white washing report such as was ex-
pected by certain sections Of the press.
Sees Waste Of Time.
Col. Aubrey Herbert. who had been
in Mesopotamia where he arranged for
the exchange of prisoners after the
capture by the Turks of Gen. Towns
hends troops at Kut, said all recrimf-
nation was a waste Of time. and time
was vital In war. He thought the OPP
timism of Gen. Sir John Eccles Nixon,
former commander Of the British forces
in Mesopotamia, was justified. and that
the trial by the newspapers OF the mill
tary leaders was an ignoble spectacle,
as they were being Judged by subse-
Quent events after having done their
best for the empire.
Premier Lloyd George expressed re-
greet at the resignation OF ]. Austen
was surprised at the action Of the sec
rotary, but it was part Of the sensitive
honor that animated all Mr.. Chamber
lain's motives. he said.
Entitled to Fair Review.
The premier added that every attain
able remedy had been applied to meet
called forth the Mesopotamia report.
AS affecting individuals. the point was
whether they made the best OF the
system with which they had to work.
to follow. but before being punished
they were entitled to a fair and Impair
tial judicial review of the facts.
The soldiers concerned were legally
entitled to full investigation. and no
body could doubt that civilians were
entitled to the same protection as SOL
diers. Mr.. Lloyd George thought the
inquiry suggested by the government
was the best method. but II the house
Of commons desired a statutory inquiry
The government did not wish to
shield any one responsible for the ter
rible catastrophe in Mesopotamia. the
premier declared. but he was bound to
point out that for the better part OF
three or four days the army council,
chiefs of the army and the war cabi-
net and both houses of parliament had
been discussing methods which had
nothing to do with the practical prose-
cution Of the war. and all this time
events on which the whole future OF
civilization depended were happening.
In conclusion, Mr.. Lloyd George begged
the house to realize Its responsibilities
and to urge and help the government
to get on with the war.
Called "Vile Ca1umny."
Former Premier Asquith, who precec-
ed Mr.. Lloyd George in the debate,
branded as vile calumny suggestions
that the military situation had been
subordinated to political considerations
when the advance to Bagdad had been
decided on.
After reading the Mesopotamia re-
port Mr. Asquith concluded, there
could be no doubt that there had. been
mismanagement. and that the guilty
should be punished. but first they were
entitled to a fair. judicial trial
Then Premier Lloyd George spoke.
after which the subject was dropped
and the house arose without making
any decision.