LORD STRABOLGIMy Lords, I crave your indulgence to make a personal statement regarding some remarks of mine in the debate in your Lordships' House on October 20, on the subject of the food situation in India, initiated by my noble friend Lord Huntingdon. I then said:
I have here a telegram received yesterday morning in answer to a cable sent by a friend of mine to … the special correspondent of Reuter in New Delhi.I should have said that a copy of Reuter's latest cable was obtained for me by a friend of mine. The cable came through the ordinary news service of Reuter, and was obtained through the regular Press channels in London by my friend, who is in that profession. My words might appear to mean that a private cable had been sent by Reuter's representative, and this would be against professional etiquette. I have been asked by Reuter's to put the matter right, and am glad to take this opportunity of doing so, as I should regret to be the cause of any misunderstanding about the actions of one of the representatives of this great institution.