SECRET DEFENCE DOCUMENT.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18380, 13 May 1925, Page 9

SECRET DEFENCE DOCUMENT.

AMERICAN REPORTS.

QUESTIONS IX THE COMMONS. (BT CABt.S-TRESS VSKXTtTTOX— COroUOnTj UXTSTIUUAS ASP S.T. CAM* ASJMCUTTOS J i Received May ICJh. $.15 p.w.l LONDON". May 11. la the House ot Commonst, replying to Mr Ramsay MacDonskl. who putaqw*tion regarding the publication by th>* '•New York World" vf ::m aH*«g*«l secret memorandum, which it aMerted Mr Austen Chamberlain (Foreign Secretary) presented to Cabinet in February, urging a now AngtaFraneo-Belgtas Kntente. and tho revision of the Sn?esiau agreement ar.d the Pali*H corridor as essential conditions to Kritish secarity, Mr Chamberlain said the memorandum appeared to l«e a copy of a docament of which acother American newspaper gave an account som«' two ntontk* ago. It was not in the public interest to give information in regard to th* foreign Office for his use. or for confidential communication to his colleague* here, or to other Governments ef th* Empire. He added that the polier of the Government was explained by him ia tho House on March 24th and it was «s-

changed. Mr MacPonaht asked whether «.**■ published document was inacmrate. Mr Chamberlain deprecated calling w» the Government to explain whether whs* purported to be a confidential doewsseat, whieh, if it were such, must hare-bee* improperly obtained, was aecorate or not, but any statement of Gorenuoff&t policy which contradicted his statement of March 2Mb bad no authority whatever. Mr Lansbury (Labour) asked if nrh a leakage of confidential documents wa* customary in the Foreign Office, became it was the second time within a few mouths that it had happened, the Zinevieff .letter being the first. Was Mr Chamberlain satisfied of the good faith of the men in his Department t Mr Chamberlain replied, "Undoubtedly." lie was sorry any aspersion had . even been suggested against them. Replying to Lieut .-Command** Sen* worthy (Labour), Mr Chamberlain said this document was not circulated by the Foreign Office. He was not aware of any document being circulated to Ooatservative newspapers. [A cable yesterday stated that tk* "Daily Express" interviewed Mr Chamberlain regarding a secret a&raoracdum published la the "New Yeek Herald" on Empire defence, which was allegedly prepared for the British Cabinet. Mr Chamberlain said he coald ant recognise the article. During the debate in the Hoase of Commons, on March 24th, on the G«Mrr» Protocol, Mr Chamberlain anaoaaeed Britain's readiness to examine Germany's proposals for a Seearirr Pact, and said that any arrangement into which Britain might enter should be purely defensive in character, framed in the spirit of the Covenant an! worked in close harmony with the, League.]