§ 15. Lord CLAUD HAMILTONasked whether permission has been given to 2307 Baron von Kuhlmann, councillor to the late German Embassy in Great Britain, to remove his personal property and household goods from this country to Holland?
§ Sir E. GREYWe have not yet received a formal application from Herr von Kuhlmann for permission to remove his effects. We are, however, prepared to grant such a request provided that similar facilities shall be granted to any members of the various British diplomatic staffs lately in Germany who may desire to remove their property.
§ Lord CLAUD HAMILTONWill the right hon. Gentleman take care that the advantages in this case shall be reciprocal: that is to say, that the effects of our late Ambassador in Berlin and his staff shall be delivered in this country intact in the same manner as the effects of Baron von Kuhlmann, which are now housed in my Constituency, were delivered to him; and will the right hon. Gentleman consult Sir Edward Goschen on the subject before coming finally to any decision in the matter?
§ Sir E. GREYYes. I will certainly consult Sir Edward Goschen on the subject. The purport of my answer was that we intended that any removal should be reciprocal, not merely in name but in fact; that is to say, that if the removal is complete in one case it ought to be so in the other.
§ Mr. HOUSTONBefore the furniture is allowed to leave this country, will the right hon. Gentleman see that it is subjected to a severe and searching test by the experts to discover secret receptacles?