§ 32. Mr. KINGasked the Patronage Secretary to the Treasury whether he has seen, in a recent issue of a Swiss newspaper, a list of cases in Germany of persons imprisoned or fined, under heavy sentence, or driven by continued imprisonment into lunacy, the charges against them being for refusal to obey militaristic orders, being abettors or supporters of Lichnowsky's opinions and pacificism, and urging proposals for peace; whether he will publish, as a war aims leaflet, a transcript of this list; and whether, in order to show up the evils of Prussianism, he will give an assurance that nothing of the kind has occurred in any Allied country?
Captain GUEST (Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury)The matter referred to has been inquired into, and it is not considered that any useful purpose would be served by publishing the list as suggested. With regard to the last part of the question, it is impossible to give the assurance without making elaborate inquiries, facilities for doing which the War Aims Committee do not possess.
§ Mr. KINGDoes this show that the War Aims Committee are going to be a great deal more careful than they have been, by making inquiries before they issue wild statements?