§ MR. VINCENT KENNEDY (Cavan, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will say whether the views of the Japanese were consulted in withdrawing the licence for The Mikado; on whoso advice did the Lord Chamberlain act, and will he state what were the considerations which prompted the action in this matter; whether the responsibility for the decision rests solely with the Lord Chamberlain; and will he generally reconsider the whole question as affecting the case of this play with a view to withdrawing the prohibition and limiting, by legislation or otherwise, the power of the Lord Chamberlain.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYI understand that the Lord Chamberlain acted on his own responsibility solely. But, with regard to the last part of the Question, I may say that if my advice had been asked or given it would have been entirely in accord with the action which the Lord Chamberlain has taken, for reasons which I should have thought would have been obvious at this moment. I am not, therefore, prepared to reconsider the Question, even if it were in my province to do so.
§ MR. VINCENT KENNEDYWho is responsible in this House for the action of the Lord Chamberlain?
§ SIR EDWARD GREYasked for notice.