§ The following question stood in the name of Mr. BOTTOMLEY:
§ 18. To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the wife of Sir Walter Townley, the British Minister at the Hague, was a member of the committee which received the ex- 919 Kaiser on his arrival in Holland; and what action, if any, he proposes to take in the matter?
Captain CRAIGBefore the hon. Gentleman answers this question, may I ask Mr. Speaker whether it is according to the usage of this House that an hon. Member should use the Notice Paper for the purpose of levying a very grave charge against a lady, and especially against the wife of a distinguished public servant such as the one mentioned in this question?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt depends very much upon the facts. Ladies now must expect to have their conduct criticised just as much as the conduct of men. The fact that they are in public positions does not exempt them at all. I do not know in the least what the facts are in this case.
Captain CRAIGOn the point of Order. I submit that if, instead of a lady being concerned, it was a gentleman who was concerned, it would be equally wrong to bring a gross charge like this against an individual.
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe shall see that when we get the answer.
Captain CRAIGIn any case, surely this House is not the tribunal to try cases of this sort. If the charge be true, surely there are other authorities whose duty it would be to bring a charge against the individual.
§ Mr. SPEAKERIf this comes under the cognisance of the Foreign Office, it is for the Foreign Office to make a reply.
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Cecil Harmsworth)No committee, official or otherwise, was appointed to receive the ex-Kaiser on his arrival in Holland, and Lady Susan Townley was not, therefore, a member of any such committee.
Captain CRAIGMay I ask, arising out of that reply, if the hon. Gentleman is aware that the country, or, if not the country, at least 7,000 officers and non-commissioned officers who were interned in Holland are under a deep debt of gratitude to Sir Walter and Lady Townley for 920 the way in which they looked after the interests of prisoners of war in that country?
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYCan the hon. Gentleman tell me whether Lady Susan Townley was one of a party of ladies and others who received the ex-Kaiser? Is he aware that this fact has been very widely published in the Press, and is it a fact that Sir Walter has in consequence tendered his resignation?
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHIt is not a fact that Lady Susan Townley was a member of any committee—
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYI did not say so. Was she one of a party which received the ex-Kaiser?
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHThe facts of the case are that Lady Susan Townley happened to be motoring in the neighbourhood—
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYWhy did not you say so?
§ Mr. HARMSWORTH—and happened to be one of the spectators who witnessed his arrival. She was not in any sense a member of any reception committee.
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYHas Sir Walter tendered his resignation?
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHI do not understand that to be a fact.