Disasters and Investigation
The suggestion thrown out by Mr. G. M. Young in last Sunday Observer for the creation of a " grand jury " of the House Commons, or the two Houses of Parliament, to conduct prelimiea enquiries into disasters like th. fall of Singapore is sufficient interesting and important to receive serious consideration. The ca for such a proposal is that a full-dress enquiry, involving the re of witnesses from distant theatres, is impracticable in the midst war. On the other hand, neither Parliament nor the country prepared to let the Government ride off every time on whaler explanation it may choose to offer. The proposed committee would, is true, not satisfy criticism completely, for it would not itself inves gate in detail, but only decide, on such evidence as was readily anal able, whether a prima facie case for investigation existed. But might indeed go further than that. In some cases, at any rate, would feel itself able to determine broadly at what point in a In chain of responsibility leading from Downing Street to some their of war in another continent the breakdown occurred—in particalar.f example, whether the chief fault lay at home or in the field. if th former, an actual enquiry, whether by Select Committee or 110' Commission, might be both possible or desirable. There maY reasons why such a plan would not work, but they are not rea apparent. At any rate, it is worth canvassing, both officially unofficially. But he believes firmly in the scheme he has pr and there is considerable substance in his observation that to row consumption is a great deal better than to bring back men f the army . or munition-works to mine coal for people to waste.
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