Mr. L. MALONE(by Private Notice) asked the Lord Privy Seal whether his attention has been drawn to the leading article published on 12th May in the "Chicago Tribune," a most influential paper having a very wide circulation both in the United States and France, suggesting that the recent Royal visit to Belgium was directed towards the political end of counteracting events at Genoa, and detaching Belgium from France; and whether he will make a statement to the House to allay the apprehension aroused both by these statements and by the attacks on His Majesty contained in the article, and to prevent any misunderstanding between this country and America?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINIn consequence of this question I have looked at the article as telegraphed to the European edition of the paper. I think it was the hon. Member who was good enough to send it to me; I would not have seen it otherwise. I should have supposed that the object of the visit of His Majesty to Belgium and to the graves of the soldiers of the, Empire in Belgium and France was sufficiently well known and its character sufficiently evident to have protected him against allegations of this kind. His Majesty's devotion to peace and his strictly constitutional exercise of his powers are known to everyone.