§ 10. Mr. SPOORasked the Foreign Secretary whether he is aware that the secret treaty concluded in May, 1916, between this country and France relative to the partition of the Turkish Empire has now been published in France; whether the British Government gave its consent to this publication; and whether he is now prepared to issue as a White Paper, or place in the Library of the House, a copy of the map alluded to in the agreement?
Mr. HARMSWORTHThere is not at this date anything very secret about the agreement in question, which has been reproduced in the Press of this country. But, inasmuch as the Peace Conference in Paris are at present considering to what extent effect should be given to this agreement, the provisional character of which is recognised both by the French Government and by his Majesty's Government, in the settlement with Turkey, I do not think it would be desirable to lay any Papers at the present time.