MR. BRYN ROBERTSI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in or about November 1895, one of the Great Powers of Europe 1261 made a proposal to Great Britain, in conjunction with, the other Great Powers, to enter the Dardanelles and to seize the Sultan; if so, what reply did Her Majesty's Government make to the proposal?
§ MR. BRYCEDO I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that the statement in the Question, which is taken from the speech of M. Hanotaux, is in fact incorrect?
*MR. CURZONNo, Sir, I have been asked here whether a proposal has been made to Her Majesty's Government, and that is the question I have answered I do not understand that M. Hanotaux said anything about a proposal to Her Majesty's Government.
MR. BRYN ROBERTSWas not part of the proposal made to Her Majesty's Government to enter the Dardanelles?
*MR. CURZONI cannot bisect the proposal. No proposal of the kind was made to Her Majesty's Government. ["Hear, hear!"]
MR. BRYN ROBERTSThe right hon. Gentleman's answer is ambiguous. ["Oh, oh!"] He says he cannot bisect the proposal, but at the same time says that no such proposal was made I wish to ask him whether a proposal to enter the Dardanelles by force was made to Her Majesty's Government?