Mr. Pringle (R., Lanarkshire, N.W.): Is my right hon. friend aware that Mr. Keir Hardie is constantly representing in the country that these proposals were actually made by the German Government to England? (Hear, hear.)
Sir. E. Grey: That was one of the reasons why I thought it very desirable to answer very explicitly. (General cheers.)
Mr. Keir Hardie: On a point of personal explanation I entirely repudiate the statement made by Mr. Pringle.
Mr. Pringle: I have to say in answer to that personal imputation that my authority is a letter written by Mr. Hardie in the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald last Saturday. (Cheers.)
Mr. Keir Hardie: Those who cheer have not seen the letter. (Cries of "Sit down.")
Mr. Pringle: Coward.
Mr. King (R., Somerset, N.) asked the Foreign Secretary whether he intended to lay upon the table copies of the German memorandum and the official statements of other foreign Governments showing the different explanations of the origin of the war which had been published by the various Governments concerned in the European war.
Sir E. Grey: I have received no official explanation of the nature referred to, except such as appear in our White Paper recently published.
Mr. King also asked whether Sir E. Grey was aware that the German Government had presented gratis to certain American citizens copies of a pamphlet, written in English, called "Germany's Reasons for War with Russia"; and whether, with a view of permitting an answer to this publication, he would obtain a copy and place it in the Library.