§ 5. Mr. HOLTasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Emperor of Austria in March, 1917, sent a letter for communication to the President of the French Republic promising to support the French just claims regarding Alsace-Lorraine, the re-establishment of Belgium in her sovereignty, keeping the whole of her African possessions, and the re-establishment of Serbia in her sovereignty, with access to the Adriatic; if so, whether that letter was at the time communicated to His Majesty's Government; and whether any, and, if so, what steps were taken as a consequence of that letter?
§ Lord R. CECILI must refer the hon. Member to the answer given yesterday to the hon. Member for Hanley.
§ Mr. HOLTWill the Noble Lord go so far as to say whether there is any doubt as to this letter being genuine; and, secondly, whether the Foreign Office was cognisant of the existence of the letter?
§ Lord R. CECILThe hon. Member, I think, will see that if I once began answering questions there would be no limit to the answers I might give.