5. Lieut. - Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the arrangements made by him from time to time for interviews with representatives of the Allied Governments for the preliminary discussion of matters of common interest follow the practice in this respect which was established between 1918 and 1922 when the Prime Minister of the day was acting as de facto head of the Foreign Office?
§ Mr. PONSONBYI am afraid I do not precisely understand to what the hon. and gallant Member is referring. I am not aware of any deviation that has been made from the usual practice of the head of the Foreign Office in this matter.
Sir F. HALLIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the Prime Minister has always been opposed to what he calls secret diplomacy, yet is he not adopting the same attitude as was adopted by Prime Ministers before, and does he not find it necessary to do so?
§ Mr. PONSONBYNo; the Prime Minister has declared himself against secret diplomacy, and his actions show that he is.
Sir F. HALLMay I ask whether he has not found it necessary to adopt the same principles as the Prime Ministers who have preceded him?
§ Mr. PRINGLECan the Under-Secretary tell us in what respect the present Prime Minister's position differs from that of the right hon. Gentlemen who preceded him? There is no answer to that.