§ 26. Mr. HIGHAMasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the German Legation at Berne, which in pre-war days consisted of a staff fewer than fifty in number, now exceeds 1,200 persons; if he has any official information 1448 showing that this Legation has become the headquarters of the German system of espionage throughout the world; and if he will make representations to the Swiss Government as to whether Swiss consent has been obtained for so great an increase?
§ The ASSISTANT-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Lord R. Cecil)The staff of the German Legation at Berne has been very considerably augmented. I am unaware of the exact numbers of its present staff, but I doubt if they are as high as is suggested. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative, and I am afraid that it would be impossible to comply with the final suggestion.