§ 12. Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a completely free hand was given to M. Jonnart to act on his own initiative and without instructions from the Governments of the protecting Powers in Greece; whether the demand of M. Jonnart for the abdication of King Constantine was made without instructions from, or previous to communication to, His Majesty's Government; whether His Majesty's Government had any information before the abdication as to the conditions, if any, on which the abdication was to be accepted; whether any steps were taken either before or immediately after the abdication to secure a complete and final renunciation by the ex-King and the Crown Prince of their rights to the crown and the succession, respectively; and whether the ex-King and the Crown Prince were allowed to leave Greece without making such renunciation and without stipulation in regard to their future domicile?
Mr. BALFOURM. Jonnart was given a general mandate by the French and British Governments to secure a radical solution of the Greek question. It was decided that full discretion should be left to the High Commissioner to secure this object, and it was considered that explicit instructions would merely hamper him in the exercise of a mandate requiring rapid and decisive action.
34 As regards the second part of the question, His Majesty's Government were not consulted, for the reason given, as to the exact form of communication to be made to King Constantine, although they had previously informed the French Government and M. Jonnart that no solution would, in their opinion, be effective which did not entail the abdication and withdrawal of the King.
The answer to the third part of the question is in the negative; and as regards the points raised in the last two parts, I must await the full report of the arrangements come to, which report is, I understand, now on its way
§ Mr. BILLINGIs the Government paying this Monarch a pension, or have they undertaken to do so in the future?
Mr. BALFOURI rather apprehend that the answer to that is in the negative, but if the hon. Gentleman is so anxious on the subject I wish he would put down a question.
§ Mr. McNEILLDoes the right hon. Gentleman intend, when he receives it, to make public the report to which he has referred?
Mr. BALFOURI could not promise to make the document public until I have seen it; but I am sure it will contain material which will probably enable me to reply to the many questions which have been put to me to-day and on previous occasions.
§ Mr. PRINGLEWill Tapers be laid which have been referred to in these discussions?
Mr. BALFOURI suppose the time will come when Papers will have to be laid. When that date will arrive I cannot at present tell my hon. Friend.