§ 12. Major HUNTasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that a message was sent from the Leeds Peace Conference to the Russian Committee of Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates endorsing Russia's declarations of foreign policy, and announcing that the message was sent from the largest and greatest Convention of labour, Socialists, and democratic bodies held in Great Britain during this generation, he will officially inform the present Russian Government that the Leeds Peace Conference did not represent the opinions of His Majesty's Government or of the great body of trade 578 unionists and workmen in this country, and that it was only representative of a small number of persons in Great Britain?
§ Lord R. CECILNo, Sir. I have no doubt that the Russian Government are fully informed as to the weight to be attached to the Leeds Conference.
§ Major HUNTIf workmen and soldiers' delegates in Russia are not informed, will they not think that this was a great demonstration of labour?
§ Lord R. CECILI think we must leave to the Russian authorities the duty of enlightening their own people.
§ 13. Major HUNTasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that the delegates from the Leeds Peace Conference have announced that they have received passports for Russia and that they are working for an inconclusive peace with Germany and represent only a small number of persons, he will have their passports cancelled for Sweden and Russia, especially in view of the refusal of the National Seamen's and Firemen's Union to sail on any ship with them, and of the fact that America and France have refused passports to those of their peoples holding similar views?
§ Lord R. CECILI have nothing to add to the statement on this subject made on the 8th instant.
Mr. FABERMay I ask whether, under present circumstances, the hon. Gentleman the Member for Leicester (Mr. R. Macdonald) is going to Russia?
§ Lord R. CECILI understand that a question is going to be addressed to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on this subject.
§ 52. Mr. THOMAS RICHARDSONasked the Prime Minister if the Government have granted a passport to Russia to Mrs. Pankhurst; and, if so, what is the nature of her mission and what is the organisation she represents?
§ Lord R. CECILThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As far as the Government is concerned, she has no mission. I have no special information beyond that open to my hon. Friend as to the organisation which she represents.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs she to go to Russia to express the well-known views of the Foreign Secretary or of the Noble Lord?
§ Lord R. CECILNo, Sir. I would as soon trust my reputation to the hon. Member himself.
§ 54. Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Prime Minister whether the Governments of France and the United States have refused to issue passports to Socialist individuals to go to Stockholm; and whether the Government propose to associate this country with the Republican members of the alliance in this policy?
§ 59. Mr. GEORGE TERRELLasked the Prime Minister whether, before passports are granted to the hon. Member for Leicester and the hon. Member for West Bradford to visit Russia, he will give the House the opportunity of expressing an opinion as to the desirability of such action?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI would refer my hon. Friends to the reply which the Minister of Blockade gave to a question on this subject on Friday last.
§ Mr. McNEILLCould my right hon. Friend say whether the House will be given an opportunity of expressing its approval of the action of the trade union in preventing these gentlemen going away?
§ Mr. PETOMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he or the Prime Minister received a telegram from the secretary of the British Workers' League asking that these passports should be at least postponed or cancelled in view of the fact that these gentlemen to whom they had been granted do not represent any fraction of opinion of organised labour in this country?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI have not received such a telegram, but I have no doubt that the Prime Minister has, because, apparently, that represents their view.
§ Mr. TERRELLIn view of the unsatisfactory answer of the right hon. Gentleman, I beg to give notice that at the conclusion of questions I shall ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House.