§ 2. Mr. LYNCHasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will arrange, in such a form that Members of 1803 this House may have cognisance of it, the communications which have been exchanged between this Government and that of Greece since the deposition of King Constantine relating to the pension to be paid to him?
§ Lord R. CECILIn view of the doubt which existed as to whether the Greek Government were or were not making any payments to the ex-King of Greece, His Majesty's Minister at Athens received instructions early last month to ascertain definitely what action the Greek Government were taking in the matter. Lord Granville was informed, in reply, that no pension had up to now been paid to King Constantine since the latter had from the first refused to accept one. No other communications have passed between His Majesty's Government and the Greek Government in the matter.
§ Mr. LYNCHMight I ask if these Papers would be accessible to any Member of the House of Commons in order that the inner meaning of these transactions may be seen?
§ Lord R. CECILThe hon. Member is very suspicious. There is no inner meaning in these transactions. I shall be very pleased to show the hon. Member any Papers that he desires to see on the subject.
§ Mr. LYNCHMight Task the right hon. Gentleman, in order to remove his suggestion of my suspiciousness, if there is not a real inconsistency between the answers now given and those given some time ago when this pension was defended on that bench?
§ Lord R. CECILNever
§ 4. Mr. PEMBERTON BILLINGasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that there is at the present time at a London tailor's hampers of clothes waiting to be dispatched to King Constantine or an agent acting on his behalf; whether he will state definitely if it is proposed to grant permission for the dispatch of these goods; if so, will he state his reasons for so granting or having granted such permission; and whether, having regard to the fact that King Constantine is notoriously hostile to the Allies, it will be regarded that supplying him with goods of any description constitutes trading with the enemy?
§ Lord R. CECILThe answer to the first three parts of the question is in the negative. The last part has already been answered.
§ Mr. BILLINGMight I ask the Noble Lord whether he will say definitely whether it is proposed to dispatch the hampers which are at present lying at Messrs. Davis's, Hanover Square?
§ Lord R. CECILThat is a large question.
§ Mr. BILLINGMight I ask the Noble Lord not to introduce humour into this matter? It is a most serious question of principle whether it is proposed to supply people hostile to this country with clothes, and with uniforms at that. Are they German or British uniforms that are being dispatched, and is it proposed to dispatch them or not?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is making a speech.