HC Deb 13 February 1922 vol 150 cc605-6 63. The following question stood on the Order Paper in the name of Lord R. CECIL: To ask the Prime Minister when he proposes to restore the pre-War practice of presenting to Parliament papers on foreign questions; whether the Note issued by the French Government in Paris will be communicated to this House; and when the promised papers on Egypt will be presented?
Lord R. CECIL

The word "recently" ought to appear in the question before the words "issued by the French Government."

The PRIME MINISTER

I wish that had been put in before, because that is one of my difficulties in answering, as I did not know to what Note the Noble Lord referred.

Lord R. CECIL

I am very sorry.

The PRIME MINISTER

The practice referred to by the Noble Lord has never been discontinued. A large number of Papers on foreign questions were laid before the House during the last Session. I then proceeded to say I do not know to which Note or to what precise action by the French Government. the Noble Lord was referring in the second part of the question. With regard to the last part of the question, I am not at present in a position to say when it will be possible to lay the Papers referred to.

Lord R. CECIL

Will the right hon. Gentleman now say whether the Note recently issued by the French Government will be communicated to Parliament?

The PRIME MINISTER

I think the correspondence must be completed, because an answer has just been given, and we are expecting a reply from the French Government. The Noble Lord knows very well from experience that it is very undesirable that these Notes should be presented until the transaction is complete, but, when complete, I think it is very desirable to place them on the Table

Lord R. CECIL

I do not know whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that this Note has been published in Paris, and that is the reason I have put the question?

The PRIME MINISTER

There are many things published in Paris for which Governments are not always responsible. I should doubt very much whether it had been published with the official sanction of the French Government.