§ The following question stood on the Paper in the name of Sir W. BYLES:
§ 61. To ask the Prime Minister whether his attention has been directed to the statements of the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs in Germany, Herr Zimmermann; whether the German Government has often declared its readiness to enter into peace negotiations; whether the Entente, under pressure from England, has never shown such readiness; whether he has further noticed the desire for peace expressed at a meeting of Socialists in Leipzic, and many similar popular manifestations in Germany; and if he will say, in view of the adjournment of Parliament, to what extent His Majesty's Government is willing to respond to this expressed desire of the enemy?
§ Sir W. BYLESIn asking this question, I would point out that the statements contained in the second and third parts of the question are the statements of Herr Zimmermann. They are not mine.
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe German Government has as yet shown no disposition to agree to peace except upon terms that would be intolerable or humiliating to some of the Allies. The suggestion that the Entente has been influenced by any pressure from Great Britain is quite untrue.
§ The PRIME MINISTEROnly what we have seen announced.
§ The PRIME MINISTERwas understood to indicate an answer in the negative.