§ 12. Mr. OUTHWAITEasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Belgian Grey Book states 987 that the German demand for a passage-way through Belgium was presented at Brussels at 7 p.m. on 2nd August, 1914; and, if so, will he state why the hour is omitted from what purports to be a translation of the document issued as a Parliamentary White Paper?
§ Lord R. CECILThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I cannot say, after this length of time, how the hour 7 p.m. came to be omitted in the translation of No. 20 of the Belgian Grey Book. I presume it was due to inadvertence. The hon. Member will see by reference to No. 23 of the same publication that the hour 7 p.m. is given.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEMay I point out the great desirability that the hour should appear in future reports, and so set at rest the statements being made that this country took no stand alongside France before the Belgian incident arose, and that only that morning we decided to place the Fleet at the disposal of France?
§ Lord R. CECILI will represent that point. I was not aware that any reasonable person had any doubt of it.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEHas the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been called to the recent statement of the late First Lord of the Admiralty in the " Sunday Pictorial" that this country did not decide to stand by France until the Belgian incident consolidated the Cabinet?
§ Lord R. CECILMy attention has not been called to that.