The comité-général — secret session — was the parliamentary procedure under article 104 of the Reglement van Orde (Rules of Order) of the Tweede Kamer by which the Chamber could deliberate on sensitive matters behind closed doors, with an oath of secrecy imposed on all present under article 105. The Tweede Kamer debate on Atjeh war origins of April 1874 was conducted in four comité-général sessions on 16, 17, 18, and 20 April, and the decision to publish the proceedings was only taken on 19 October 1881.
The procedural debates
During the April 1874 sessions, extensive procedural debates occurred over whether to continue in comité-général or to move to open session. Bredius proposed a motion to close the secret session and continue in open session, arguing that the secret matters had been sufficiently discussed and that members could express their convictions in public without referencing the secret documents. This motion was rejected 36–32. Haffmans proposed a modified motion to close the secret session and continue in open session while respecting the imposed secrecy; this was also rejected 36–30. The Minister of Colonies and the Minister of Foreign Affairs both insisted that the secret documents could not be discussed in open session.
Kappeyne clarified that once the comité-général was closed with an oath of secrecy, no member could in open session refer to the secret documents — though general opinions could still be expressed. Van Zuylen argued that members should be able to discuss the matters without referencing the documents, and that the Minister’s position would effectively gag the Chamber about everything contained in the documents.
The closure
On 20 April, after Fransen van de Putte’s final reply, the comité-général was closed with an oath of secrecy under article 105 of the Rules of Order, binding all present not to disclose what had been said.
See Also
- Tweede Kamer debate on Atjeh war origins (April 1874)
- Tweede Kamer
- I.D. Fransen van de Putte
- Bredius
- Haffmans
- Kappeyne van de Coppello
- Van Zuylen van Nyevelt
- Declaration of war on Atjeh (1873)
Source
Verslag van het verhandelde in de vergaderingen der Tweede Kamer in comité-général van 16, 17, 18 en 20 April 1874: Oorlog met Atjeh, pp. 7–8, 73–78, 95.