§ 2. Captain FAIRFAXasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to instances of insults and violence having been offered to peaceable British travellers in France; and, if so, whether he has made, or will make, any representations on the subject to the Government of the French Republic?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir Austen Chamberlain)I have seen in the Press an account of one such incident, but I have not yet received the Report for which I called from the British Consular Officer concerned. I am confident that we can rely on the French authorities to take whatever steps are necessary for the protection of British subjects visiting France.
§ Captain FAIRFAXMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he saw in the account of this incident that an English lady was injured by a brick being thrown, and the French authorities do not appear to have taken any steps in the matter?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI can make no statement on the facts until I receive the Report from the Consular Officer which I have called for. I think there is some reason to think that the accounts in the Press are very much exaggerated.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs it not a fact that, in view of the large number of foreign visitors of all nationalities to France, these incidents are very few and mostly have been greatly exaggerated?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI think so. I am sure they are deplored by no one 2970 more than the French people and the French authorities.