MR. GRANT DUFFasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether the telegram sent to Captain Burnaby was forwarded through the British Embassy at St. Petersburg; whether the telegram was sent in cypher or in a form which enabled the Russian authorities to become acquainted with its contents; and, whether, if those contents were known to or could be known to the Russian Government, Her Majesty's Government considers that they cannot be communicated to Parliament?
MR. GATHORNE HARDYIn reply to the first Question of the hon. Member, I have to state that the telegram was sent through the British Embassy at St. Petersburg; and, to the second Question, I reply that the telegram was not in cypher, but in English words. With regard to the third Question, personally, I should feel little difficulty about the production of the telegram, except for this—that the Correspondence, in my opinion, could not be properly produced, and would, to a certain extent, lead to a misunderstanding with respect to the very promising and energetic officer to whom it related.