§ 49. Viscount WOLMERasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to a speech by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury at Bethnal Green last Friday, in which he expressed sympathy with the Balkan League in their present war with Turkey; whether this represents the attitude of His Majesty's Government; and, if so, whether the other Powers of Europe have been informed that England no longer occupies a position of strict neutrality?
§ Mr. MASTERMANMy right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question so far as it refers to myself. I assume the hon. Gentleman refers to an alleged report of a lecture which I delivered last week, at the request of the members of a working men's club in my Constituency, upon the situation in the East. I gave then an account of the issues as they presented themselves to both combatants: I emphasised strongly the neutrality of this country: and upon some discontent being expressed with that neutrality, I declared that sympathy might be legitimately expressed by subscription to the funds for the sick and wounded. I think I have reason for complaint that four days afterwards, without any reference to myself for verification, distorted fragments purporting to be a report of this lecture should appear in a daily newspaper with such affirmations as those of our neutrality deliberately or carelessly omitted; and I am grateful for the opportunity of making this explanation to the House.
§ Mr. GEORGE LLOYDAre we to understand that the right hon. Gentleman expressed no sympathy with one side or the other?
§ Mr. ROBERT HARCOURTMay I ask whether my right hon. Friend received any communication from the hon. Gentleman opposite before he addressed his letter to the "Times"?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI may say that it is usual for Members, if attacked in this House, to receive notification of the subject, and I should have thought the hon. Member would have had the courtesy before attacking me to have given me notice. I may have expressed sympathy with all the countries at war, and I specially emphasised the neutrality of this country.
§ Mr. LLOYDMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is not aware that any Member of the Government is open to any criticisms in the public Press, and whether he is not aware that in a grave crisis of international affairs like this one who is a Member of this House is perfectly entitled, without discourtesy to another Member, to criticise his conduct in the public Press?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI am only expressing what I think would be my own standard of courtesy.
§ Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLMay I ask the Prime Minister, in reference to these questions which are addressed to him, whether it is not a fact that ever since the time of Lord Althorp, in 1831, when he protested against this practice, Leaders of the House have repudiated the method of questioning Ministers and trying to fix responsibility on the Cabinet for utterances of Ministers who are not Members of the Cabinet?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat raises a large question of general policy of which I should like to have notice. My right hon. Friend has conclusively disposed of the allegation made.
§ Mr. CROFTMay I ask if the right hon. Gentleman took any steps to contradict the statements which appeared in the papers at the earliest possible moment?
§ Mr. MASTERMANImmediately the question was put on the Paper I took steps to answer the statements here.
§ Mr. MASTERMANI am responsible to this House and not to any section of the Press.
50. Mr. FRED HALL (Dulwich)asked the Prime Minister whether the reference contained in the speech delivered recently by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to the war now proceeding in the East, and asking for support and sympathy for the Balkan States in their attack upon Turkey, correctly expresses the views of the Cabinet as a whole with regard to this war?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is already disposed of.
§ 53. Lord CHARLES BERESFORDasked the Prime Minister whether he will request Members of the Government to keep their sympathies with one of the combatants in the present war under control as long as this country remains neutral?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not think that question arises after the explanation which has been given.
§ Lord C. BERESFORDMay I ask whether the Prime Minister is aware that the statements of the Financial Secretary to the Treasury are calculated to increase animosity between Christians and Moslems; whether he is aware that the right hon. Gentleman's statements have been repudiated by Members of the Government; and whether, looking at the deplorable effect of such unusual procedure, he will now repudiate it?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat question is obsolete. I have only to say—and I say it emphatically—that the attitude of His Majesty's Government in the war is one of strict neutrality. Of course, it is the duty of a Minister as well as anybody else to use no language inconsistent with that attitude.