(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister whether the Mexican Government have attempted to expel Mr. Cummins, British Diplomatic Agent in Mexico City; whether Mr. Cummins has refused to leave and has shut himself up in the British Legation; whether His Majesty's Government regard the action of the Mexican Government as a breach of international courtesy, and, if so, what steps His Majesty's Government are going to take?

(by Private Notice)asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is able to make any statement as to the state of affairs existing at the British Legation in Mexico City, and as to the causes which have led up to it, and what action His Majesty's Government proposes to take?

The statements made in the question put by the hon. Member for Farnham (Mr. A. M. Samuel) may be taken as substantially correct. For some time there has been friction between the Mexican Government and Mr. Cummins, His Majesty's Government being unable to agree that the complaints made against Mr. Cummins were justified. On the 13th May I was informed that if Mr. Cummins were not withdrawn he would be expelled on the 10th instant. I had been desirous of regularising our relations with Mexico for some time, and decided that. Sir Thomas Hohler, who had previously done good work in that country, should go out at once on a special mission and report to me. On his arrival, Mr. Cummins was to leave. On the 15th April that information was sent officially to the Mexican Government, and I trusted that matters would be allowed to rest there. The Mexican Government have, however, not only declined to withdraw their notice of expulsion, but are, apparently, in ways reported in the Press, proceeding to carry it out. His Majesty's Government regard the action of the Mexican Government as a grave breach of international courtesy, but I am still waiting for further information, as the result of communications I have made to the Mexican Government. I can only add, at the present moment, that I informed the Mexican Government that, in the event of their taking steps against Mr. Cummins, with which His Majesty's Government did not concur, the Hohler Mission could not be proceeded with. Though Sir Thomas Hohler is due to start at once, he has not yet left.

Is there at present free communication between His Majesty's Government and Mr. Cummins?

I believe that it is interrupted at present, though we are getting communications through.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the nature of the charges made by the Mexican Government against Mr. Cummins on account of which they desire his expulsion? There must be some reason surely.

The allegations made by the. Mexican Government against Mr. Cummins amount briefly to this, that Mr. Cummins made rude communications to the Mexican Government.

Has not the friction arisen owing to Mr. Cummins' representations as to the rights of British subjects, made on the instructions of the Government?

; The trouble which has arisen during my term of office can be accurately described by what my right hon. Friend has just said. The latest communication which caused offence was with reference to the case of Mrs. Evans, whose property was seized by the Mexican Government.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that the rights of British subjects will not be sacrificed in any circumstances owing to a new representative being sent there?

The whole idea which I had in mind was that, by regularising our relations with the Mexican Government, we should be in a very much better position than we are at present to negotiate about those rights.

Is it not impossible to carry out negotiations with any country which does not conform to the usages of civilisation?