§ Mr. ASQUITH (by Private Notice)asked the Prime Minister whether he can give the House any information with regard to the revolution in Germany?
§ Sir PARK GOFF (by Private Notice)asked the Leader of the House whether he can give any information as regards the reported revolution in Berlin and other parts of Germany?
§ Colonel WEDGWOODMay I ask, on a point of Order, whether the order in which 1812 Private Notice Questions are handed in to you regulates the order in which you call on hon. Members to ask those questions, because I have also, on behalf of the Labour party, a question on the same subject?
§ Mr. SPEAKERMetaphorically speaking, I put the names in a hat, and call them out.
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe telegrams which have been received by the Foreign Office from His Majesty's Charge d'Affaires at Berlin and from various other sources in Germany show that during the night of March 12–13 a military coup d'état was carried out with the aid of troops from the military camp of Doberitz in conjunction with the Berlin garrison. The Government left for Dresden during the night, and a proclamation was issued by the new Government, dissolving the National Assembly and Prussian Assembly. Herr Kapp appears to have declared himself Chancellor and to have appointed General von Luttwitz Minister of Defence. The revolutionary Government have announced that they are not a monarchist Government, and that their intention is to rid the country of the Bauer-Noske Government, to hold fresh elections immediately, and to observe the Treaty of Versailles "in so far as is possible and consistent with the honour of the German people and its capacity to work and to exist without annihilation." The Bauer-Noske Government appears to have convoked the National Assembly for a meeting at Stuttgart on March 16th, and to have issued orders for a general strike. From a telegram despatched by Lord Kilmarnock yesterday afternoon, it seems that Berlin is quiet and that no disturbances have yet taken place. Railways and telegraphs were still working at the time of the despatch of this telegram. The House will realise that the information which is at present in possession of His Majesty's Government as to the progress of events in Berlin is naturally of a fragmentary nature, and that it is consequently not possible for me at the moment to make a fuller statement. I may say, however, that the general tendency of our information is that the new regime so far finds little, if any, support in other parts of Germany, and depends mainly on troops from the Baltic Provinces in and about Berlin. The Allied 1813 Governments, of course, would regard with anxiety any movement which represents the forces of military or monarchical reaction. But it will be well to await developments before taking any definite action.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs there any truth in the allegation from Berlin that the Allies contemplate the possible recognition of this Junker Government, which has been set up by General Ludendorff?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI pointed out to the hon. and gallant Member when I sent him back his question that there was certain parts of it which I requested him not to ask, and he deliberately asks those particular parts.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODOn a point of Order. If I had been called upon to ask my question, I should have asked it in the form in which you indicated that it should be asked, but as I have asked it as a supplementary, I considered that I was entitled to ask it in my own language and in my own way.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI am afraid I cannot make an exception in dealing with the hon. Member, and deal with him in a different way from other hon. Members.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODMay I ask what you object to in this question?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI object first to the reference to the Press, and to the allegation made, which is quite unnecessary and contrary to our custom in this House; and secondly to the statement—which is, I suppose, a statement of the opinion of the hon. Member—that Ludendorff was responsible for the Revolution, for which there seems to be absolutely no justification, and which raises an entirely different point.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODThat is the point that I desire to raise.
§ Mr. SPEAKERIf the hon. and gallant Member wishes particularly to raise that point, he ought to give notice of it.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWhy am I not entitled to refer to the Press in a supplementary question? It is perfectly well known that it is one of the principles of this House that in a written question you cannot refer to the Press, but it has not been a rule that in the case of supplementary 1814 questions references to the Press are entirely suppressed.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe reason why some hon. Members bring in references to the Press is because the question has not been submitted in the proper way to me. Wherever I can I stop it, because it is obviously unnecessary and undesirable.
§ Mr. BILLINGHaving regard to the fact that it will largely depend upon the attitude of the Allies whether this alleged revolution is successful or whether the counter-action by the Socialists will be successful, will the Prime Minister take an early opportunity of expressing the views of the Allies with regard to these disturbances?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have already done so.
§ Mr. STEWARTHave the Government any information as to the truth of the statement that Mr. Lincoln is the censor of telegrams from Germany, and can he say whether Mr. Lincoln can interfere with any news coming to this country?
§ Commander Viscount CURZONCan the Prime Minister say whether any naval or military steps have been taken by the Allies to deal with the situation in Germany?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWith regard to the question put by my hon. Friend (Mr. Stewart) I think it is correct so far as we have been able to learn from our representatives in Berlin.
§ Mr. STEWARTCan he interfere with our telegrams?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not know. There has been no news to-day. Whether that is due to Mr. Lincoln's interference or not, I do not know. In reply to the question of my hon. and gallant Friend (Viscount Curzon), I may say that the Allies are watching carefully the course of events. Marshal Foch and Sir Henry Wilson are on the Rhine in consultation. All I can say at the present moment is that the situation is being very carefully watched.
§ Mr. BILLINGCan we be assured that there will not be any leniency for old time's sake?
§ Colonel WEDGWOODCan I have an answer to my question whether there is any truth in the suggestion that the Allies 1815 contemplate recognising this new Government in Germany?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have already given a very full answer.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYHad the Government any previous warning of this coup d'etat. Had our representatives, military and otherwise, not warned the Government that this was likely, or were we taken completely by surprise? If we had warning, had we no policy ready, to use in this very vital situation?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs a matter of fact the German Government had warning. There were a good many indications, undoubtedly, of it, but no action could have been taken. It had to be left entirely to the German Government to defend its own existence.
§ Mr. W. THORNEHear, hear! No interference. The same in Russia. Let them stew in their own juice!
§ The PRIME MINISTERBefore we can possibly take any action, whatever action is necessary, we must await developments. It may be a temporary revolt in Berlin which may soon be over.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYI beg leave to move the Adjournment of the House to call attention to a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the situation in Berlin and the consequent disturbance of the European situation.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe Government is not responsible for the situation in Berlin any more than the hon. and gallant Member himself.
§ The PRIME MINISTER (later)I want, if I may, to intervene before proceeding further with Committee of Supply [which had been called] in order to make a statement about Berlin. I have had news this very minute, placed in my hands immediately the Speaker had left the Chair. The news comes from Lord Kilmarnock—
"The latest news is that the military movement is spreading,
"Military coup reported from Munich.
"Frankfurt in a state of division, the military and civil authorities each supporting separate governments.
'Fighting at Breslau, Hamburg, Kiel, Liepsig, and Kemnitz. Results uncertain.
1816 "Military coup carried out in 35 towns.
"Position of the new government appears to have been strengthened.'