prominence the unequal working of the rules of promotion in the Indian and British Armies, were not foreseen.
"22. We entertain a strong opinion, if it is fitting that we should express an opinion, that the hardships and inconveniences to which we have referred should be removed. But the experience of these hardships and inconveniences cannot, as we think, be used to violate or to strain the construction of the Parliamentary Guarantee; and their removal ought, in our opinion, to be effected by suitable arrangements (the nature of which it is not for us to indicate) in the British Army, and not at the expense or by a derogation from the rights of the Officers of the Indian Army."[1]
The Government, of course, felt that something must be done, but it will hardly be credited that, in the face of this Report, Mr. Cardwell actually proposed to bring in a Bill repealing the Parliamentary Guarantee. In fact, sooner than be forced to spend a few thousand pounds for two or three years, they were prepared to use their influence to induce the House of Commons to violate their sacred pledges embodied in an Act of Parliament.
I believe this to be an undisputed fact; at least, I was asked privately if I would support such a Bill if introduced by Mr. Cardwell, in order to carry out the recommendation of the Select Committee of 1870.
Let the reader remember that at that time a Parliamentary Guarantee had been passed, securing certain terms for the Officers of the Royal Army. Apart
- ↑ Copy of Report of Royal Commission on the supersession of Colonels of the British Army. Return to an Address of the House of Commons, June 5th, 1871.
