§ Mr. RAMSAY MacDONALD(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the publication of the text of the new Treaty with Iraq in a Cairo newspaper, how this publication has occurred and whether the published text is correct?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI have been asked to reply to this question. My attention has been called to the newspaper report referred to. I am not aware how the information was obtained. Its publication was certainly not authorised by the British Government. The correct text of the new Treaty is being laid before the House to-day. The Cairo version would appear to be a free but not accurate translation of the Arabic version of the new Treaty.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether, this being the second case of the kind which has occurred, the other being the leakage over the Indian Commission, when Colonial and Dominion Governments are advised of papers which are to be laid as Parliamentary Papers 210 in this House, it is made perfectly clear that they are not for publication?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREIt was made perfectly clear. This Treaty was signed on Thursday, telegraphed to Bagdad, and sent to the printer here. It is not given to the Press here until the White Paper is printed and laid before Parliament. How this slightly amended copy of a translation of the Arabic version came into the hands of a paper in Cairo, I have no idea.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYWas a copy sent by the hon. Gentleman's Department to Cairo as well as to Bagdad?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GORENot that I am aware of.