ALLEGED SECRET DOCUMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 May 1925, Page 2

ALLEGED SECRET DOCUMENT.

[bv TELEGRAPH —I’KK CHESS ASSOCIATION.] I.ON DUN. May I I. In the House of Commons Mr MacDonald pill a qiie-l ion 111 Mr ( ham- !'■■] lain regard in : lie- puhln al ton by l|:e “New Y’’l'k World." of l lie alleged scret ii!.‘iit>iran<!nm which u i- asserted that Mr Austen Chamberlain (Foreign .Minister) presented to the Cabinet in February, urging a new Auglo-Eraiieo-I’.dgiaii eineine and the revision of Sile.-ian agreement ami the Polish corridor Ito the Baltic Sea) a.- an essential condition to British security. In reply, Mr Chamberlain said that tin* memorandum appear to he a iopy of a document of which another

American newspaper gave an account some two months ago. It was not in the public interest to give information m regard to the Foreign Oilin' for his use or for confidential communication to l:(s colleagues here, or to tin other (iev.wmoents of the Kie.qire. Tie added that the holier ot the Covertlnu'iil was explained by him ill the House of Commons on March kith and this was unchanged. Mr .MacDonald asked whether the published document was inaccurate.

Mr Chamberlain deprecated calling on the Government to explain whether what purported to be a confidential document, which, if if were such must . have been improperly obtained. was accurate or not'; but any statement of the Government's policy which contradicted his statement, of March tilth had no authority whatever. Mr l.anslmry asked if such a leakage of confidential documents was customary in the Foreign Office, because it was the sis end time within a few months that ii had luipnelied. Ihe Zilluvi'il' letter was the lir-t leakage. Was Mr Chamberlain. In- asked satisfieil ol till- "Olid tail ii o; the lilell 111 his Department f .Mr Chamberlain replied that "undoubtedly he was sorry that any as- j persions had even lieeu suggested against the-e men.” > Replying lo Commander Kenworthy. Mr Chamberlain said Hint ibis doeument was ii"! circulated by the Foreign Ollice. !;•■ was not aware ol any doeitiii'iit being circulated to the Conservatice newspapers.