§ 2. Mr. KINGasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that when M. Trotsky, the present Foreign Minister of Russia, was returning to Russia after the Revolution of March, 1916, his ship was stopped by a British war vessel and M. Trotsky was taken prisoner and charged with being a German agent; on whose instruction was this action taken; and whether he will arrange to remove any possibility of ill-will by requesting the officer in command of this British war vessel to offer his regrets to M. Trotsky?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)The vessel in which M. Trotsky left the United States called at Halifax, where M. Trotsky and others were detained, pending inquiries as to wishes of the Russian Government, which were immediately met. The remainder of the question does not arise.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEIs it not a fact that M. Trotsky was sentenced by a Russian Court to six months' imprisonment for revolutionary action, and had to leave Russia on that account? Is he likely to have any sympathy with Germany?
§ Mr. LYNCHBy having M. Trotsky arrested, were you not merely making yourself the cat's-paw of the Czar?
§ Dr. MACNAMARANo!
§ Mr. KINGWill the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of my question, that it is very desirable to be agreeable and polite to those who have high authority and great power in the world?
§ 18. Mr. LYNCHasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in order to dispel suspicions created by various acts of the Government that it is less favourable to the Republican regime now established in Russia than to the old autocratic government of the Czar, he will take steps to cultivate sympathetic relations with the de facto rulers representing the Republic from stage to stage, and discourage attempts on the part of British institutions to afford help or to honour by distinctions the enemies of the Russian Republic?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Balfour)There is not, and never has been, any ground whatever for the suspicions which the hon. Gentleman supposes to exist. I have not the slightest idea to what the suggestion contained in the last clause refers.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEHas the right hon. Gentleman seen the report issued yesterday that the Government are making representations to the Revolutionary Government on behalf of British mining syndicates whose land has been confiscated, and would they do that in respect to any other Government than a revolutionary one?
§ Mr. BALFOURCertainly ! I do not know the facts, and I have not seen the report; but if British property is confiscated in any country it would be within the sphere of the Foreign Office to make representations.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is only carrying out the policy of the conscription of capital, which the Chancellor of the Exchequer has advocated, in the form of the land policy of the Prime Minister?
§ Mr. BALFOURI do not see the relevancy of that suggestion.
§ 54. Mr. OUTHWAITEasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the attacks made upon the Russian revolutionary government at the meetings of Anglo-Russian syndicates as 956 a result of the abolition of private property in land; and will he take steps to assure the Russian people that these attacks do not reflect public opinion in this country?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Bonar Law)I have no knowledge of these attacks, but in any case, I do not see why at the present moment I should express an opinion on any of the Russian schemes of land legislation.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it was reported Yesterday in the Press that the British Government has made representations n Petrograd as regards the expropriation of land and capital? If the Government has taken action, cannot the right hon. Gentleman make a statement?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI did not see the statement referred to.
§ 55. Mr. KINGasked whether Colonel Poole and the members of the Russian military mission are still in Russia; and, if so, whether they will be recalled?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThere is no present intention of removing the Mission.
§ Mr. KINGCan the right hon. Gentleman say what service they can now perform in view of the military position in Russia and our attitude in not supplying them with any more munitions?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI hardly think it would be useful to make a statement.