§ Mr. KINGasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that when the Soviet Government of Russia recognised the independence of Finland this independence was granted to a Soviet Government of Finland of anti-German sympathies, and that Pecheneg, on the Murman coast, was ceded by Russia to give a friendly anti-German Power an outlet to the sea, that on the Soviet Government of Finland being destroyed by bourgeois Finns, aided by German soldiers, the Soviet Government of Russia has declined to ratify Finnish independence, and has protested to the German Government against the use made of the Murman coast by the German submarines acting with Finnish support; whether this country or the Allies will offer, or has offered, to the Russian Soviet Government naval and military assistance to preserve the Murman ports to Russia against Finland and German influence; and whether he can safely give information concerning any action already taken?
§ Lord R. CECILThe facts are, I believe, substantially as stated by the hon. Member in the first part of the question. In the event of any invitation being received from the Soviet Government for Allied naval or military assistance in defending Russian territory against Germany, it will receive sympathetic consideration, but I am unable to make any further statement at the present time.