§ 4. Mr. MORELasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in view of recent events in Montenegro and of the fact. that a sum of 100,000 dinars has been placed by the Serbian Government upon the head of each of the Montenegrin leaders who continue to fight for the independence of their country, which has been repeatedly recognised and guaranteed to them by the Great Powers, His Majesty's Government will, in the interests of humanity and of peace in the Balkans, reconsider publishing the Report of Count de Salis, its late envoy to Montenegro, seeing that the author of it was intimately acquainted with Montenegro for many years before the War and was in a position to form an accurate judgment upon the sentiments of the inhabitants?
§ Mr. PONSONBYThe hon. Member's suggestion is one to which His Majesty's Government would readily accede, did they feel assured that the publication of Count de Salis' report would conduce either to peace or to the enlightenment of this House regarding existing con- 1717 ditions in Montenegro. Apart, however, from the reasons originally advanced in another place against such publication there is the further consideration that the report is now four years out of date, and that since it was made elections have been held in the country, and a full report of these elections, together with an examination of the political conditions then obtaining has already been laid. I feel sure that the hon. Member will recognise that it would not help a difficult situation to publish, four years after the events, a report which deals not with the affairs and actions of this country, but with conditions in a foreign country with whom it is our earnest desire to maintain relations of mutual confidence and friendship.
§ Mr. MORELIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the people of Montenegro are being exterminated systematically at this moment, and are being hunted and slaughtered like sheep in their mountain fortresses, and if the publication of the de Salis report, would not clear up an error of judgment committed at the settlement, is there not some other means by which His Majesty's Government could act, so as to show what is being done?
§ Lieut.-Colonel JAMESHas the hon. Gentleman been in communication with our representatives in that part of the world with regard to what has been going on quite recently, and has he seen photographs published in the Serbian papers, which are described as "pacification of Montenegro," in which the corpses of victims are displayed, and if it is obviously impossible to publish the do Salis report, will His Majesty's Government take some steps to prevent the indiscriminate extermination of Montenegrins?
§ Mr. PONSONBYThe Foreign Office art acquainted with the facts as described and are keeping a close watch on the proceedings, but I do not think that the publication of the de Salis Report would in any way help the situation at the present time.
Lieut.-Colonel J. WARDDoes not the hon. Gentleman think that we might easily 'send some of our pacifist propagandists there?
§ Mr. NEIL MACLEANCannot we have a new report brought out regarding more recent conditions, to enable Members of this House to decide what steps we can take regarding a nation which was an ally of this nation during the War?
§ Mr. PONSONBYI will consider that.