HC Deb 11 November 1912 vol 43 cc1703-4
2. Mr. MALCOLM

asked whether the Paredes Report, referred to in the Putumayo Blue Book, was transmitted to the Foreign Department of the United States by the Peruvian Government with any conditions of secrecy attached thereto?

Mr. ACLAND

The covering Note transmitting the Paredes Report to His Majesty's Minister at Lima referred to it as a secret Report. Doubtless the same terms were used in communicating it to the United States Minister.

Mr. MALCOLM

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in the dispatch from Mr. Knox to Mr. Mitchell-Innes of 24th May, 1912, saying that the Government had taken great interest in the Report and so on, there is no indication whatever that that Report was granted to them on any conditions of secrecy?

Mr. ACLAND

I think that is very likely true, but it is also probably true that the Report was communicated in the same way to the two Governments.

Mr. SWIFT MacNEILL

Is the hon. Gentleman also aware that the United States took immediate action and that we took none?

Mr. ACLAND

We had taken a great deal of action before.

Mr. WEDGWOOD

Ts the hon. Gentleman aware that during last year 2,000,000 pounds of rubber were exported from Iquitos after the exposure had been made?

Mr. ACLAND

Yes, I am aware of that.