§ 4. Mr. KINGasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement of the results achieved by his recent mission to America?
Mr. BALFOURI do not think I could usefully add anything to what has already appeared in the Press. I should, however, like to take this opportunity of again expressing to the Government and people of the United States my warmest thanks for the very cordial welcome and great hospitality which they were kind enough to accord to myself and to the other members of the mission.
§ Mr. KINGIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that M. Viviani has made an elaborate statement in the French Cham- 1585 ber, and could not the right hon. Gentleman consider whether something similar might not be vouchsafed to us here?
Mr. BALFOURI do not see any reason really for reconsidering this question. This was a mission to the United States. Missions have often been undertaken before, and it has not been the custom to make any special statement on the subject. I greatly doubt whether, even if that custom were abrogated on this particular occasion, I could really add anything to what the public thoroughly understands already and develop the very full accounts which have appeared in the American and the British Press.
§ Mr. GINNELLThen the policy of trusting the people is definitely abandoned?
Mr. BALFOURI do not follow that. Information appears in the Press, and the hon. Member appears to think the people are not trusted.