In the House of Commons on Monday, the vote on
account gave rise to discussions on African and Asiatic affairs. Sir Edward Grey stated that if the Government had been at all aware of the importance which the German Government attached to the clause in the Congo State treaty, to which they had objected, that clause would never have been inserted. That is rather a poor defence for the Foreign Office. What is the use of diplomacy, if it is not used to find out the views of foreign Governments P It is foolish to tread on a man's toe and then say you would never had done so had you known that he disliked having his corns trampled on. Sir Edward Grey was more successful in answering Mr. Curzon on the Pamirs and Siam. The Pamir delimitations were progressing favourably, and they were within measurable distance of the end. "There need be no anxiety as to the result of the negotiations between Russia and ourselves." As to Siam, be took the definition of British interests to be the maintenance of the independence of Siam, and the securing for this country of most-favoured nation treatment in commercial or other respects. "Her Majesty's Government relied on the assurance the French Government had given them of their desire to preserve the integrity and independence of Siam, and that they had no intention of prolonging the occupation of the place,"—i.e., Chantaboon.
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