WERE SECRETS DIVULGED?

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 13 May 1925, Page 9

WERE SECRETS DIVULGED?

Foreign Office Confidential

Memorandum.

QUESTIONS IN HOUSE OF COMMONS.

By Cable —Press Association —Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association Received May 12, 8.5 p.m. LONDON, May 11.

In the House of Commons, replying to Mr Ramsay Macdonald, who put a question regarding the publication by the “New York World” of an alleged secret memorandum which it asserted Mr Chamberlain presented to Cabinet in February, urging a new Anglo-Franco-Belgiau Entente, the revision of. the Silesian agreement and Polish corridor, as an essential condition to British security, Mr Chamberlain said the memorandum appeared to be a copy of a document of which another American newspaper gave’ an account some two months ago. It was not in tho public interest to give information in regard to the Foreign Office, for his own use or for confidential communication to his colleagues here, or to other Governments of tho Empire. He added that the policy of the Government was explained by him in the House of Commons on March 24, 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 it were such, must have been improperly obtained, was accurate or not, but any statement of the Government policy, which contradicted his statement of March 24th, had no authority whatever.

Mr Lansbury asked if such a leakage of confidential documents was customary in the Foreign Office, because it was the second time within a few months it had happened, the Zinovieff letter being the first. Was Mr Chamberlain satisfied of the good faith of the men in his department. Mr Chamberlain replied that ‘‘undoubtedly he was sorry that any aspersion had even been suggested against them.”

Replying to Commander Kenworthy, Mr Chamberlain said this document was not circulated by the Foreign Office. He was not aware of any document being circulated to the Conservative newspapers..