§ 11. Mr. KINGasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in or about the autumn of 1912, or at any other time, Mr. Armgaard Karl Graves was entrusted by the Foreign Office with a mission to a foreign country?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Charles Roberts)I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member for Gravesend on 16th June, 1913. Neither the Foreign Office nor my right hon. Friend had anything to do with Mr. Armgaard Karl Graves before that answer was given, nor have we had anything to do with him since that answer was given.
§ Mr. KINGThen it is quite untrue to say that he ever had any commission entrusted to him, directly or indirectly, by the Foreign Office?
§ Mr. C. ROBERTSThat, I understand, is the grammatical sense of the answer which I have given.
§ Mr. JOHN WARDMay we also take it for granted that no interview was ever held between the Foreign Office and this gentleman after his discharge from prison?
§ Mr. C. ROBERTSI cannot put any other interpretation upon the words which I have read.
§ 30. Mr. KINGasked the Secretary for Scotland if he can state present whereabouts of Armgaard Karl Graves, who was convicted of espionage at Edinburgh in 1912, and was released before completing the full sentence then passed upon him?
§ Mr. KINGIs there any information of the recent whereabouts of this gentleman up to, say, two years ago?
§ 31. Mr. KINGasked the Solicitor-General, whether he has taken into consideration a book, entitled "Secrets of the German War Office," purporting to be written by an ex-convict named Graves; whether he is aware that the book contains accusations of bad faith against three Cabinet Ministers; and whether, in view of the prominence given to these charges against Ministers, he intends to permit further circulation of these libels?
§ The SOLICITOR-GENERAL (Sir Stanley Buckmaster)I have looked at the book mentioned, although I have never considered it. I am unaware of the charges referred to, or that any prominence has ever been given to them.
§ Mr. KINGIn view of the fact that this book has imposed upon a great number of the loyal and dutiful subjects of His Majesty will the Solicitor-General read the book through carefully?
§ Sir S. BUCKMASTERThat is a very good reason why I should not do so.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIECan the right hon. Gentleman say who is responsible for the difference of the editions of the book published in England as compared with the version published in America?
§ Sir S. BUCKMASTERI cannot conceive why hon. Members should think that I am an encyclopædia of knowledge. I have no knowledge whatever of the publication.