HC Deb 22 February 1917 vol 90 c1490W
Mr. DILLON

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been directed to the charges made by Dr. Seton Watson against the "Morning Post" newspaper that that journal has been made the instrument of a German-Magyar intrigue to deceive English public opinion, through the medium of its Budapest correspondent, as to the feeling in Hungary on the War, and in other ways has been used for enemy objects; whether he is aware that this correspondent is accused by Dr. Seton Watson of fabricating leading articles, purporting to have appeared in Budapest newspapers, and forging speeches purporting to have been delivered in Parliament by Hungarian statesmen, with the object of misleading this country for enemy purposes; whether he is aware that the same charges have been independently made by an official organ in Paris; whether steps have been, or will be, taken under the Defence of the Realm Regulations to investigate these charges against the "Morning Post"; and whether, if it is found that the charges are true, steps will be taken to punish those responsible for these publications?

Mr. BALFOUR

My attention has been called to articles which have appeared in the Press on this subject. As far as the Foreign Office is concerned, it is not proposed to take any action.