§ 49. Mr. A. HERBERTasked the Prime Minister whether Sir Basil Zaharoff, G.C.B., G.B.E., has been financially rewarded for his help and advice on the Eastern question?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI do not understand this question. If my hon. Friend has any charge to formulate, I beg that he will state it in plain language.
§ Mr. HERBERTMay I ask your ruling, Mr. Speaker? My great difficulty is that, according to the Rules of Procedure in this House, it is quite impossible to put down the kind of question which I wish to put down. I have been driven to put down the question in this form because 234 that is the only way in which I can draw attention to the sinister influence of this great multi-millionaire.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is just the point. An hon. Member is not allowed to make insinuations in the form of a question. There is no Rule of the House that is more clear than that. If the hon. Member has a charge to make, he can make it in the form of a Motion, but not in the form of a question.
§ Mr. T. P. O'CONNORIs not such a question, attributing sinister motives to a man who notoriously gave most valuable and disinterested service to the Allies during the War, an abuse of the Rules of the House?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThere was a question tendered to me, but I struck out from it all the insinuations.
§ Mr. HERBERTIs it not a fact that some time ago the Government gave a definite pledge that when these high decorations were given, the reason for giving them would be stated?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI had better see the further question.