§ 9. Mr. OUTHWAITEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that a communication from the Petrograd correspondent of the "Times," which appeared on the 11th April, has provoked resentment in Russia as having declared that the Council of Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates desires to upset the Provisional Government and to bring about the defeat of the Russian Armies and a dishonourable peace; can he say whether an official statement on the subject has been telegraphed from Petrograd; and, if so, will be give its purport?
§ Lord R. CECILThe answer to all three parts of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEAre not statements such as those which are quoted in this question calculated to prejudice relations between this country and the Russian Provisional Government?
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe can all form our own opinion on that point.
§ 46. Mr. TREVELYANasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the manifesto of Friday, 16th March, announcing the policy of the new Provisional Government of Russia, which contains the declaration of an immediate general amnesty for all political and religious offences, of freedom of speech, of the Press, and of association and labour organisation; and whether he will take steps to restore to Great Britain these same liberties, which the two Republics of Russia and the United States, our Allies, do not regard as incompatible with a condition of war?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Bonar Law)The answer to the first part of the question is in the affir- 2015 mative. As regards the second part, it is not considered that the liberties of this country are, or ever have been, in any danger.