§ 20. Mr. LYNCHasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the payment of a pension of £20,000 a year to ex-King Constantine through the Greek Government is still authorised; whether he will associate this payment with the facts that ex-King Constantine is the centre of a group of pro-German propagandists in Switzerland, and that to this 968 propaganda in part has been attributed by British and French authorities the weakening of the Italian lines on the Isonzo and the military defection in Russia; and whether, in view of these circumstances, he will now consider the advisability of bringing this matter before the Greek Government?
Mr. BALFOURThis question is a domestic concern of the Hellenic Government, and I do not consider that it would be desirable for His Majesty's Government to advise them in the matter.
§ Mr. LYNCHIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Government of France have intervened to prevent any part of their funds being devoted to subsidising this enemy of the Allies, and that, in spite of that, this Government persists in subsidising him? Is not that Boloism in its worst form?
Mr. BALFOURI do not know to what transaction of the French Government the hon. Member's remarks refer. I do not believe that any of the money with which we endeavour to assist our Allies in the prosecution of the War goes to the ex-King of the Hellenes.
§ Mr. LYNCHIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that, if not entirely by himself, by other representatives of the Foreign Office, it has been admitted that this Government has control over that money which the Government of Greece supplies to this arch-enemy and agent of the Kaiser?