§ MR. T. W. LEGH (Lancashire, Newton)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is in accordance with diplomatic usage for a foreign representative to take part in public meetings which involve discussion of the policy of the Government to which he is accredited?
§ MR. T. P. O'CONNOR (Liverpool, Scotland)Before that Question is asked, Mr. Speaker, I wish to ask you, Sir, whether it is in order for the hon. Member to address a question which is intended to cast a serious reflection on the conduct of the representative of a friendly Power in this country. ["Hear, hear!"]
§ *MR. SPEAKERI do not see anything out of order in the question.
§ *THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. GEORGE CURZON,) Lancashire, SouthportThe presence of a foreign representative on such occasions is unusual and scarcely decorous. But no positive rule against it is known to exist, provided the representative does not actively interfere in a manner affecting the internal politics of the country.
§ MR. LEGHIs it not the fact that the Government of the United States ordered Lord Sackville to leave Washington because he was alleged to have interfered—
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! That does not arise out of the Question.
§ MR. F. S. STEVENSON (Suffolk, Eye)Is it not within the absolute right of a foreign representative to be present at a public meeting if he previously receives the permission of his Government to do so?
§ *MR. CURZONThat is a matter which affects the relations of the Minister in question with his own Government. It has nothing to do with me.