MYSTERIOUS DOCUMENT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 13 May 1925, Page 5

MYSTERIOUS DOCUMENT.

FOREIGN SECRETARY QUESTIONED. INCIDENT IN HOUSE OF COAIMONS BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. LONDON, Alay 11. In the House ol : Commons, replying to Mr Ramsay AlacDonald, who put a question regarding the publication by the New York World of an alleged secret memorandum which, it is asserted, that' Air Austin Chamberlain presented to Cabinet in February, - urging a new Anglo-Franco-Begian entente and a revision of the Silesian agreement and Polls'll corridor, as an essential condition to British security, the Foreign Secretary, Air A. 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 the public interest to give information in regard to a document prepared by the Foreign Office for his use, or for a confidential communication to his colleagues here, or to, other Governments of the Empire. He added that the policy of the Government was explained 1> T * him in the House of Commons on Alarch 24, and this was unchanged. Air AlacDona'd asked if the published document was inaccurate.

Air Chamberlain deprecated calling on the Government to. explain whether what was purported to lie a. confidential document, which, if it were such, must have been improperly obtained, was accurate or not, hut any statement of Government policy which contradicted his statement of Alarch 24 had no authority whatever. Air 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 heinv the first. Was Air Chamberlain satisfied of the good faith of the men in liis department? Air •Chamberlain replied. “Yes, undoubtedly.” He was sorry that any aspersion had even been suggested against them. Replying,, to Air Kenworthy. Air Chamber! ain said: “This document was not . circidated by the Foreign Office.” He "was not aware of any document being circulated to Conservative newspapers.