HC Deb 29 November 1917 vol 99 c2191
4. Mr. RICHARD LAMBERT

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any general statement about the secret agreements and documents recently published by the Russian Government and which affect this country?

Lord R. CECIL

: No, Sir; I am not prepared to make any such statement at present.

8. Mr. OUTHWAITE

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that the publication of secret documents in Petrograd has disclosed that the Allied Governments were committed to vast projects of annexation which could only be carried out by forcing the enemy Powers to unconditional surrender, he will state whether these commitments remain; and, if not, to what extent they have been abandoned?

Lord R. CECIL

: I cannot accept as accurate the hon. Member's statement of facts on which he bases his question. It cannot, therefore, be answered.

Mr. KING

: Relative to these documents which have been published, will the Foreign Office say distinctly and clearly, are they authentic or are they not authentic?

Lord R. CECIL

: I really could not say without seeing the documents. Some of them may be authentic and some not.

Mr. KING

: Will he try to get hold of the documents so as to see?

Mr. HOGGE

: Do we understand that these documents have been published without reference to the Foreign Office?

Mr. SPEAKER

: Hon. Members had better put these questions down. There are to-day a large number of questions on the Paper.