§ 2. Mr. KINGasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Sir George Buchanan and the British Embassy in Petrograd were subject to any threats, insults, dangers, or other indignities during the last two months of his stay in Petrograd; and whether he can make a reassuring statement on the subject?
Mr. BALFOURIf the hon. Member desires information on this subject perhaps he will be good enough to postpone his question until Sir G. Buchanan has returned to this country and I have had an opportunity of consulting him.
§ Mr. KINGasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that, after Mr. Trotsky's release from a German prisoners' camp at Halifax, Sir George Buchanan in Petrograd repeated the accusation against Mr. Trotsky of being a German agent; and whether, in order to remove any ground for recrimination, he will now instruct Sir George Buchanan to apologise to Mr. Trotsky for this affront?
§ Mr. KINGasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that after the Russian revolution Mr. Trotsky was arrested by British authorities and placed in a camp with German prisoners at Halifax; that he was charged with being a German agent; and whether, in order to remove any ground for suspicion or he will now instruct our Ambassador or Chargé d'Affaires in Petrograd to convey to Mr. Trotsky the British Government's regret for this incident?
Mr. BALFOURMr. Trotsky was detained at Halifax on suspicion of being a German agent. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.
§ 6. Mr. KINGasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Sir George Buchanan on his way home gave an interview at Petrograd stating that the British Government would not recognise the present Russian government; and whether this statement of policy was made at the direction of the War Cabinet on Instructions from the Foreign Office or upon Sir George Buchanan's own initiative?
§ 7. Mr. KINGasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, before Sir George Buchanan left Petrograd, he made arrangements that the diplomatic representatives of any other Power should look after the interests of British subjects in Russia?
Mr. BALFOURNo, Sir. The Counsellor and other members of the staff of the Embassy are still in Petrograd, and Mr. Lindley is in charge of British interests.
§ 8. Mr. TREVELYANasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether consignments of food for the population of Russia, which had already reached Archangel, have recently been shipped back by orders of the British Government, and what the reasons are for this step?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of BLOCKADE (Commander Leverton Harris)The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; the second part, therefore, does not arise.