§ BARON HENRY DE WORMSasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Her Majesty's Government have been advised by their legal adviser at St. Petersburg, that the expulsion of Mr. Lewisohn, a British subject, from Russia last year by the Government of Russia was a violation of Russian Law?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKESir, successive Governments have held, with the acquiescence of Parliament, that the legal advice which they receive is of a confidential character, that it cannot be produced, and that it is the Department concerned which is responsible for the decision which, founded upon such advice, is taken. A Report has been received from the counsel to the Embassy at St. Petersburg. That Report has necessitated a request for further information from Mr. Lewisohn, and the Law Officers of the Crown have not yet reported upon the case, and the House would blame me for creating a new and bad precedent of giving piecemeal and premature information of the legal advice we have received. Such a course would not further the object which Her Majesty's Government and the hon. Member have in common—namely, to secure, as far as International Law permits, that justice be done to our Jewish fellow-countrymen in foreign countries. No unnecessary delay will occur in giving full information to the House.