§ 35. Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Undersecretary of State for foreign Affairs whether he has any official information to the effect that Count de Salis, after the Report on Montenegro was dispatched to London, was interned at Cettinje, together with Colonel Cheke and other British officials, and were only permitted to go when a British cruiser arrived at Cattaro to take them home; and whether any reparation has been demanded by His Majesty's Government?
Mr. HARMSWORTHThe statement contained in the first part of my hon. and learned Friend's question has no foundation. The second part of the question, therefore, docs not arise.
§ Mr. McNEILLIs the hon. Gentleman aware that statements have seen so published in America, and, if there is no foundation for them, has he taken any steps to let it be known that this insult has not been offered to His Majesty's Government?
Mr. HARMSWORTHMy hon. Friend's question was the first information that I had of anything of the sort.
§ 36 and 37. Mr. McNEILLasked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether his attention has been called to a dispatch dated from Trieste on the 25th of October, and published in the "Chicago Tribune" on the 1st of November, which contains a summary of the 606 Report of Count de Salis on Montenegro; if he will say why a document concealed from the House of Commons was allowed to be published in the American Press; whether, in view of such publication, he will reconsider his decision not to lay the Report upon the Table of the House; (2) if he is aware that the summary of the De Salis Report published in America contains the statements that the Pod-goritza Assembly was a bogus one from beginning to end, that Montenegro is in the grip of Serbia, that the Serbs are murdering the Montenegrins wholesale, and that the people of Montenegro are eager to maintain their independence of Serbia; whether the summary gives correctly the substance of the Report; and, if not, in what particulars is it inaccurate?
Mr. HARMSWORTHI have not yet seen the newspaper report, and until it has been received and examined within, I hope, the next few days, I can offer no comment on the subject.
§ Mr. McNEILLIs the hon. Gentleman able to say whether the statements made about this Report, which are correctly set out in this question, are or are not accurate?
Mr. HARMSWORTHI must ask my hon. Friend not to seek by a process of exhaustion to ascertain what is in the De Salis Report.