HC Deb 14 March 1916 vol 80 cc1870-1
7. Mr. GINNELL

asked whether, when consenting to the use of Mrs. Scott, recently deported, as carrier of a letter written in Hungarian from London to the Finance Commissioner of Hungary making a certain offer if Hungary would secede from Austria and join Russia, he was aware of the other uses previously and concurrently made of Mrs. Scott by Messrs. Rothschild; on what grounds the Foreign Office enabled Mrs. Scott to pass into and out of enemy countries once a month during eighteen months of war; and whether the American Embassy, through which legitimate communication with those countries was carried on, was kept informed of the uses being made of Mrs. Scott over the same ground?

Sir E. GREY

The Foreign Office have never employed or been responsible for the employment of Mrs. Scott as a messenger to Austria-Hungary, and I gather, on inquiry, that the firm of Rothschild have also never employed her. I am informed that she was at one time associated with the American Relief Committee, but that is not a matter for which His Majesty's Government have any responsibility.

Mr. GINNELL

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain how Mrs. Scott has 'been enabled to pass into and out of enemy countries once a month for eighteen months of the War?

Sir E. GREY

I have said that Mrs. Scott at one time was associated with the American Relief duties, and we have no responsibility for that.