HC Deb 14 May 1918 vol 106 cc175-7
2. Mr. HOLT

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will com- municate the information regarding the Emperor of Austria's letter and the proceedings consequent thereto which was laid before the Foreign Affairs Committee of the French Chamber, or so much thereof as can be made public, to the House in time for debate on Thursday next?

Mr. BALFOUR

I have already informed the House that I shall be glad to put the House in possession of anything which the French Government may think it proper to publish on this subject. I cannot, I fear, go further.

Mr. OUTHWAITE

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen that the French Government has thought it proper to refer these documents to the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Navy and Army Committee, and is he just hushing it up because these documents reveal that the Prime Minister was contending for the making of peace at this juncture whilst this Government is attacking those who say the opportunity has arisen?

Mr. BALFOUR

The hon. Gentleman is entering into argument on this question. The documents to which he refers were laid, as I understand it, by the French Government before a secret committee. I do not even know what the documents were.

Mr. OUTHWAITE

Has the right hon. Gentleman not been informed by the French Government that documents relating to the making of peace were submitted to the Foreign Affairs Committee?

Mr. BALFOUR

It is not the practice of the French Government to tell us what documents they choose to lay before a secret committee of their own Chamber.

Mr. SNOWDEN

Was not the Foreign Office or the British Foreign Secretary made aware of the negotiations which are now the subject of inquiry in the French Foreign Affairs Committee?

Mr. D. MASON

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that it would allay a considerable amount of unrest in this country if he would lay Papers?

Mr. SNOWDEN

May I have an answer to my question? Is not the British Foreign Office as fully aware of the circumstances connected with these peace offers as the French Government; and, if so, why cannot this House be informed as the French Parliament has been informed?

Mr. BALFOUR

I am asked whether I can lay certain documents. I do not know what the documents referred to were.