§ MR. J. RAMSAY MACDONALD (Leicester)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government are negotiating a treaty or other form of understanding with the Russian Government; whether he is in a position to make any statement on the subject to the House; and whether, before committing the country to such an agreement, he will consider the feelings of organised labour and those holding Liberal opinions regarding the relations of the Russian Government to its subjects.
§ MR. RUNCIMANMy right hon. friend is unable to make any statement 669 on this subject at present. But he cannot admit that internal affairs in Russia are relevant to any discussion of matters affecting the respective frontiers of the two countries with the object of preventing difficulties which might other-wise arise between them.
§ *MR. J. RAMSAY MACDONALDAm I to understand that the Governments are only negotiating on frontier questions and not on general questions?
§ MR. RUNCIMANThat is what I have said.
§ *MR. REES (Montgomery Boroughs)Would not a good understanding with Russia be of advantage to all parties?
§ MR. J. WARD (Stoke-on-Trent)Are the two Governments negotiating?
§ MR. RUNCIMANThat was stated some time ago in this House.