Page:Paul Samuel Reinsch - Secret Diplomacy, How Far Can It Be Eliminated? - 1922.djvu/101



food supply, upon the assistance which he pre- sumes will be ready at any moment to be given to us by France."

On March 24, 1913, Mr. Asquith, Prime Minis- ter, made a comprehensive answer to a question of Sir W. Byles in the following terms:

"As has been repeatedly stated, this country is not under any obligation, not public and known to Parlia- ment, which compels it to take part in a war. In other words, if war arises between European Powers, there are no unpublished agreements which will restrict or hamper the freedom of the Government or Parliament to decide whether or not Great Britain should partici- pate in a war."

In August, 1913, Lord Haldane made a state- ment to the effect that the very friendly relation- ships with France rendered the situation in the Mediterranean most satisfactory. On June 11, 1914, this same general matter was up again for discussion. Sir Edward Grey, in answering a question, referred back to the statement made by Mr. Asquith on March 24, 1913, and added: "It remains as true to-day as it was a year ago."

The nation was meanwhile left entirely in the dark with respect to the actual matter of the re- lationships which had developed between Great Britain and France, and it was only after the