§ 20. Mr. KINGasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there was published in the press of 6th March, 1917, a letter purporting to have been written, on 21st July, 1916, by Lord Hardinge, permanent secretary to the Foreign Office, to Sir George Buchanan, British Ambassador in Petrograd; whether Lord Hardinge admits the authorship of this letter; if so, whether he has been asked for an explanation of its references to the right hon. Member for North Mon-mouth and to the Prime Minister of Rou-mania; what is the nature of Lord Hardinge's explanation; and what action he proposes to take?
Mr. BALFOURThe answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative, and to the third in the negative. The fourth part does not, therefore, arise. I do not propose to take any action.
§ Mr. KINGIn view of this letter, is it really proposed to maintain Lord Hardinge in his present position without any apology being either offered to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for North Monmouth or to the Roumanian Prime Minister?
Mr. BALFOURThe letter to which the hon. Gentleman's question refers was in the nature of a private communication, as has already been stated in the House. Unless the hon. Gentleman's correspondence is of a peculiarly dull character, he must know that everything contained in it would not bear publication even if he desired that it should be published. I do not propose under these circumstances to carry out the suggestion which he has made. May I remind him that this letter was obtained by the illegal action of a German submarine, and the reason the German Government published it was to make mischief. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will not abet the German Government in that.
§ Mr. KINGIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the information which he has just given to the House has never been given before, and is quite news to us?