§ MR. R. MCGHEE (Louth, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether his attention has been directed to a statement made by the Under Secretary of State for the Home Department, at a public meeting held recently in Reading, to the effect that the Colonial Office had said to the German Emperor "Hands off!" and that the German Emperor did take his hands off because he knew he had a resolute Government to face; (2) whether any dispatch containing such a demand had been addressed from the Colonial Office to the Emperor of Germany or to the German Government; (3) what reply, if any, had been received; and (4) whether he will lay the correspondence in connection with the matter before the House?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.I have not seen the statement referred to in the Questions. In answer to the three last Questions, I have to say that any correspondence with foreign Governments is conducted by the Foreign Office.