§ 16. Mr. KINGasked the Prime Minister whether he has observed the frequency with which his colleagues have given interviews to American and other neutral journalists, and that thus pronouncements of the highest political importance are set before other countries before being offered to Parliament or the British public; and whether he will arrange that such important utterances of Ministers as cannot be conveniently made in this House may be conveyed to British or Colonial journals before being made public to foreigners?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)I must refer my hon. Friend to the speech of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on the 24th May, in which, in my opinion, he gave a complete answer to the criticism contained in the question.
§ Mr. KINGIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that my question would also apply to the interviews given with respect to India by the Secretary of State for India, and by the Viceroy of India, which were communicated to United States papers, though the United States have no kind of special interest in Indian affairs?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not see any reference to India in the question.