§ SIR HENRY HOAREI wish, Sir, to put a Question to the First Minister of the Crown, of which I have given him private notice. It is, Whether, to his knowledge, there is any foundation in fact for the intelligence contained in a leading article in "The Daily Telegraph"—namely, that the Cabinet of Berlin have sent a communication to the Government of France demanding the immediate reduction of the French Army, and threatening, in the event of refusal, immediately to occupy a large portion of French territory—thereby threatening to put an end to that country's existence, and seriously compromising it as an independent nation?
MR. GLADSTONEI believe, Sir, no information has been received by the Government, up to the time at which I speak, corresponding with the information given in the article to which my hon. Friend refers.