asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there has been before the British Government any proposal that Japan should occupy or send troops to any part of Russian territory; and whether any action on the part of any of the Allies has been taken or is contemplated in order to protect their interests in the far East of Russia?

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer returned yesterday to the hon. Member for Hanley. I have nothing to add to it.

Can we hope for a statement upon this subject not later than Thursday, when a Vote of Credit will be moved?

The hon. Member can hope for it.

Can he hope with any prospect of realising his hope?

May I ask whether, before any decision is taken on this question, there will be an opportunity for discussion in this House?

I do not know as to that matter.

Is the Government afraid of discussion?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will arrange, in such a form that Members of this House may have cognisance of it, the communications which have been exchanged between this Government and that of Greece since the deposition of King Constantine relating to the pension to be paid to him?

In view of the doubt which existed as to whether the Greek Government were or were not making any payments to the ex-King of Greece, His Majesty's Minister at Athens received instructions early last month to ascertain definitely what action the Greek Government were taking in the matter. Lord Granville was informed, in reply, that no pension had up to now been paid to King Constantine since the latter had from the first refused to accept one. No other communications have passed between His Majesty's Government and the Greek Government in the matter.

Might I ask if these Papers would be accessible to any Member of the House of Commons in order that the inner meaning of these transactions may be seen?

The hon. Member is very suspicious. There is no inner meaning in these transactions. I shall be very pleased to show the hon. Member any Papers that he desires to see on the subject.

Might Task the right hon. Gentleman, in order to remove his suggestion of my suspiciousness, if there is not a real inconsistency between the answers now given and those given some time ago when this pension was defended on that bench?

Never

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that there is at the present time at a London tailor's hampers of clothes waiting to be dispatched to King Constantine or an agent acting on his behalf; whether he will state definitely if it is proposed to grant permission for the dispatch of these goods; if so, will he state his reasons for so granting or having granted such permission; and whether, having regard to the fact that King Constantine is notoriously hostile to the Allies, it will be regarded that supplying him with goods of any description constitutes trading with the enemy?

The answer to the first three parts of the question is in the negative. The last part has already been answered.

Might I ask the Noble Lord whether he will say definitely whether it is proposed to dispatch the hampers which are at present lying at Messrs. Davis's, Hanover Square?

That is a large question.

Might I ask the Noble Lord not to introduce humour into this matter? It is a most serious question of principle whether it is proposed to supply people hostile to this country with clothes, and with uniforms at that. Are they German or British uniforms that are being dispatched, and is it proposed to dispatch them or not?

The hon. Member is making a speech.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the imports of tea from the United Kingdom to Sweden amounted in 1913 to 245,660 lbs. and in 1916 to 6,614,258 lbs.?

I beg to refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer returned yesterday to a similar question by the hon. Member for Wimbledon.

Is it a fact that the exports of tea from this country into Sweden have increased twenty-fourfold during that time?

The hon. and gallant Member will find the whole of the facts set out in the answer. I should not like to commit myself to any figure.

Can the Noble Lord say whether it is a fact that this enormous increase did take place?

A very large increase did undoubtedly take place, as set out in the question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the amount of resin exported to Sweden in 1913 and in 1915?

The total imports of resin into Sweden for 1913 were 6,772 tons, and for 1915 6,382 tons. Of this, there came from Great Britain in 1913 19 tons, and in 1915 1,432 tons, and from Germany in 1913 5,943 tons, and in 1915 81 tons.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the amount of pepper exported from the United Kingdom to Sweden in 1913 and also in 1915?

The re-exports of pepper from the United Kingdom to Sweden in 1913 were 21 tons, and in 1915 were 1,166 tons. In 1916 licences for about 20 tons were issued.

Is there any possibility of any of that pepper going through to Germany, and is it a fact that it may be useful in the manufacture of tear shells?

I speak rather ignorantly as to the last point, but I believe that this particular kind of pepper is not used for tear shells. I have no doubt that a considerable portion of the 1,166 tons in 1915 did find its way into Germany. Since that time exports have been cut down to what we believe to be for Swedish uses only.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the increase in the export of linen piece goods to Switzerland in 1917 as compared with 1913; and whether he will take immediate steps to reduce such exports?

The exports from the United Kingdom were 772,100 yards in 1917 as against 660,000 yards in 1913; but it must be remembered that before the War Switzerland obtained large quantities of linen goods from Germany. Owing to shortage of home supplies, it has not been possible for some time to issue licences for the export of linen goods to Switzerland, and export is unlikely to be resumed for the present.

Can the Noble Lord give an undertaking that none of this increase has gone through to Germany?

It is impossible to give any such undertaking; but, as a matter of fact, I believe that none has gone through. That is my belief.

Is it absolutely clear that in the last six months there have been no exports going to Germany?

It is impossible to be perfectly certain what happens to small parcels, but, generally speaking, I believe that to be true.

Then would it not be better to stop the whole of it?

Is the Noble Lord aware that large quantities of piece goods are regularly sent from Ireland to Switzerland to be embroidered and then returned, and will he see that neither this nor any other legitimate trade is interfered with?

The hon. Member is perfectly right. These questions are extremely complicated and difficult, and it is impossible to dispose of them if you only have regard to one side of the question.