Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-03-15
Lord Curzon
Answers Address
Ex-Sec. Montagu

The House Of Lords was crowded this
afternoon when Marquis Curzon, sec.
rotary for foreign affairs, replied TO
the address OF Edwin S. Montagu last
Saturday before his constituency at
Cambridge, in which he said the. for
eign secretary was aware of his hav-
ing given permission to publish The
Indian governments telegram which
led to Mr.. Montagus resignation ss
secretary of state for India.
Lord Curzon left a sick bed in the
country in order to make persona,
statement.
He began by saying Mr.. Montagu's
action had had grave effect upon the
position of the British representatives
at the forthcoming conference in Paris
on the Near Eastern question. He said
he told Mr.. Montagu in a private cor
versation:
"Of course YOU won't authorize pub
LEGATION of the government of India's
telegram without reference to the cab
met
The foreign secretary said that # he
iCurzon) had regarded suspension of
publication possible he would have
brought the matter before the cabinet.
Disturbed and dismayed at Mr.. Mona
agu's action" he continued, / wrote a
private letter deploring the action he
had taken and protesting against the
repetition of similar occurrence"
He said he had not kept copy Of
the letter, which he regarded as con-
ti,I
said, land instead Of making state
merr in parliament, where he could
be answered, Mr.. Montagu went to his
constituents and publicly travesticd
both this and the private converse
lions with him and vilified col
league"
Lord Curzon declared Mr.. Montagu
tried to transfer some portion Of the
responsibility for his lamentable in
discretion to my shoulders" He said
he received from Mr.. Montagu today
a copy of the letter and asked tie lords
to remember Mr.. Montagu's description
OF it as "plaintive, hectoring. bullying
and complaining" He read the letter
as follows:
Dear Montagu: | much deplore
that you should have thought t right,
without consulting the cabinet. to au-
thorze publication of the telegram,
even as amended. Had |. when vice
roy. ventured to make n public pro-
nouncement iii India about the foreign
policy OF the government in Europe I
should have been recalled. I was once
rebuked for making a casual reference
in speech.
II consulted Mr.. Chamberlain
this morning. in the absence of the
prime minister. and found he entire
ly held my views. 1t was too late.
That / should be asked to go into
conference in Paris when q subor-
dinate branch of the British gov
eminent six thousand miles away is
debating to the British government
what line it thinks l ought to pur-
sue away in Thrace seems to me in
tolerable.
The part India ought to play. or
has been allowed to play, in this
series of events passes my compre-
hension. Moreover. it would be of
very dangerous import if the gov
eminent of India, because it rules
over a large body of mOslems. is en-
titled to publish it's views about
what we do in SMYRNA or Thrace.
Egypt. The Sudan. Palestine, The
Malay, Peninsula or any other part.
Is Indian opinion always to be the
final court of moslem appeal?
II hope this may be the last of
these most unfortunate pronounce
ments but if any other IS ever con-
templated i trust YOU will at least
give me an opportunity of express
ing my opinion in the cabinet before
sanction is given.
Yours ever.
CURZON."
The foreign secretary closed his
remarks with Il few words of COM
ment, saying he would leave it to
their Iordships to form their own
opinion Of the tone of the letter.
Lord Curzon appeared to be under
q strong emotional strain and his
voice Shook with indignation as he
spoke. The galleries We're crowded
with peeresses and members of the
House of Commons.
The Montagu affair still is cXcit
ing intense interest in political
quarters. The Earl or Derby was
expected to reach London tonight
from the Riviera, and is expected
Immediately to consult leading UNI
ionists before deciding whether he
will accept the offer OF the Indian
sccretaryship in succession to Mr..
Montagu.