§ 12. Mr. LEES-SMITHasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs at what date he became cognisant of the declaration made by M. Ribot to the French Chamber of Deputies that the Czar of Russia had promised M. Briand, when Prime Minister of France, that he would, in addition to supporting the French claim to Alsace-Lorraine, leave France free, if need be, to make an autonomous state out of German territories on the west bank of the Rhine?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHWas the right hon. Gentleman aware of that statement when in the Debate on peace negotiations he described my reference to it as an absolute mare's nest?
Mr. BALFOURThe hon. Member misinterprets what I said. Perhaps he had better put a question down and I will consider it. One of the things in this con- 1162 nection which I said was a mare's nest was the idea that one of the war aims of the British Empire was to create a new autonomous territory on the Rhine.
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHDoes the right hon. Gentleman recollect that my statement was distinctly that it was an agreement between Russia and France, and that I specifically said it was not an agreement in which this country was concerned?
§ Mr. KINGIf the right hon. Gentleman does not know in November what was communicated to him officially in August, is not that an instance of his delay?