§ 12. Mr. COCKSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information regarding the arrest, on 31st May, of Mr. Pembroke Stephens, the Berlin correspondent of the "Daily Express," by the German authorities; and whether he can give the reasons for this action?
§ Sir J. SIMONI understand that Mr. Pembroke Stephens was arrested in Berlin on 31st May, taken the same evening by train to Cologne and expelled from Germany over the Belgian frontier on the morning of 1st June. The German authorities state that the decision to expel him was taken because his further presence in Germany was, in their view, calculated to disturb Germany's peaceful relations with foreign Powers.
§ Mr. COCKSSeeing that this is the third British Press representative who has been expelled from Germany without any apology whatsoever, will the right hon. Gentleman draw the attention of the German Government to the bad impression caused in this country by these proceedings and ask for a further explanation and an apology?
§ Sir J. SIMONIt is the unquestioned right of any State to expel a foreign 555 journalist, just as it is the right of public opinion in different countries to form their own judgment and conclusions on the subject.
§ Mr. THORNEDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that, after the article by this gentleman in the "Sunday Express," they will invite him back again?
§ Mr. ANSTRUTHER-GRAYHas the right hon. Gentleman satisfied himself that the journalist was not to blame?