§ 12. Mr. KINGasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Lord Hardinge is Permanent Secretary at the Foreign Office; if so, whether he is still performing the duties of his office; and whether, pending a discussion in this House of the Report of the Mesopotamia Commission, Lord Hardinge will temporarily retire from active participation in Foreign Office work?
Mr. BALFOURThe answers to the first two branches of the question is in the affirmative, to the last in the negative.
§ Mr. KINGHas the right hon. Gentleman read the Mesopotamia Commission's Report? Is he aware that severe strictures have been "passed in that Report on Lord Hardinge; and are all these strictures to be considered merely as scraps of paper?
Mr. BALFOURI do not think that this is a fitting moment in which to discuss the Mesopotamia Report.
§ Mr. DEVLINMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the late Chief Secretary for Ireland was compelled to resign when animadversions were passed upon him by a Commission of which Lord Hardinge was the Chairman; and whether, if there is any sense of decency, this gentleman will retire at the earliest possible moment?
Mr. BALFOURI really do not see what relevance to the answer to the question there is in this historical account of what happened in Ireland.
§ Mr. KINGI beg to give notice that, in view of the very unsatisfactory answer of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, I shall call attention to this question on the Adjournment to-night, or at the earliest possible opportunity.
§ Mr. DEVLINAnd I will second that.
§ 46. Mr. KINGasked the Prime Minister whether he will assure the House that there is no intention to appoint Lord Hardinge as British Ambassador in Paris, or, alternatively, that Lord Hardinge will not be so appointed until the House has considered the Report of the Mesopotamia Commission?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Bonar Law)There is not, and has not been, any intention of transferring Lord Hardinge at the present moment either to Paris or to any other diplomatic post.
§ Mr. KINGMay we take it that Lord Hardinge will have no advance or preferment pending the discussion of the Mesopotamia Report by this House?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe answer I have just given is, in itself, an assurance of that.
§ Mr. F. WHYTEDoes that necessarily imply that no change is contemplated in the Paris Embassy?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThat question is not involved in this.
§ Mr. DEVLINCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether Lord Hardinge has sent in his resignation?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWNothing of the kind has happened.
§ Mr. BILLINGCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is possible to continue the employment of these political and military administrators in the same posts that they occupied and do occupy?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not arise out of this question.
§ 47. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Prime Minister, if, pending the discussion of the Mesopotamia Report in the House, he will give orders that no person censured by the Commissioners shall be promoted to any higher post than that which he now holds?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI can readily give my hon. Friend the assurance he asks for.
§ Mr. BILLINGWill the right hon. Gentleman give this House an opportunity of discussing the desirability of impeaching one or more of these military or political chiefs? May I ask for a reply?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIf the hon. Member wants replies he should give notice of his questions.