§ MR. THORNE (West Ham, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any representations will be made to the Russian Government as to the treatment by officials of the people in the Russian Empire before the British Fleet is sent on a visit of ceremony to Kronstadt, and further steps are taken to commit His Majesty's Government to definitely friendly arrangements with Russia.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYThe Answer to the hon. Member's Question is in the negative.
§ MR. THORNEMay I ask what is the object of the Government in sending a British Fleet to Kronstadt? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a boy of fourteen and a girl of eighteen have been publicly executed at Riga?
§ MR. KEIR HARDIE (Merthyr Tydvil)May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has seen in the newspapers the telegram sent by five members of the Russian Duma to the effect that the massacres of the Jews are being continued and are being officially countenanced by the Government; and whether that is not sufficient cause for his Department to take action to influence the Russian Government to stop these outrages in the interests of civilisation?
§ SIR EDWARD GREYI have seen the statement in the newspapers, but I have no official information of any kind with regard to the matter. With regard to the Question of the hon. Member for West Ham, the Admiralty are intending to send a Fleet for a cruise in the summer in the Baltic, in the course of which, 1366 according to present arrangements, the ships will visit German, Swedish, and Russian ports; and I think it is premature to assume that anything will occur that I would make it necessary to alter those arrangements.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIEasked whether, in the event of these massacres being continued, orders would be given that the Fleet should not visit Russian ports to mark our disapproval.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYI cannot add to the Answer I have already given.