HC Deb 15 December 1919 vol 123 cc22-4
55. Brigadier-General CROFT

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that M. Litvinoff is reported as endeavouring to introduce preliminaries for the Treaty of Peace; and whether definite instructions have been given to the hon. Member for Leeds (Mr. O'Grady) that he is on no account to enter into discussion upon any question whatever other than that concerning the exchange of prisoners?

THE PRIME MINISTER

The answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative.

Brigadier-General CROFT

Has attention been given to the statement of the hon. Member for Leeds (Mr. O'Grady) and reported in the papers—

THE PRIME MINISTER

I have not seen the report.

Mr. HOGGE

As the reply in both cases is in the negative—[HON. MEMBERS: "It is in the affirmative"] If is is in the affirmative, then, will my right hon. Friend inform the House whether the Government are taking any further steps to deal with these negotiations. Is he aware that, so far as the House and the country are concerned, the sooner we make peace with Russia the better?

70. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

asked the Prime Minister whether the economic distress in Central and Eastern Europe is partly due to the War, or state of war, existing along all the borders of the former Russian empire; whether His Majestys' Government have received an offer of peace from the de facto Government in Moscow, or have reason to believe that that Government is willing to conclude peace; whether the de facto Government at Moscow is in a stronger position, militarily, than at this time last year; and what action is contemplated by the Government?

THE PRIME MINISTER

In reply to the first part of the question, the anarchy in Russia is, of course, one of the causes of the distress in Central Europe; the answer to the second part of the question is that no such offer has been received and that I have no means of knowing what is in the mind of the Bolshevik Government. As regards the relative position of the forces in Russia there are many different opinions, and I hesitate to express mine.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that according to a statement by the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the other day the proposals which M. Litvinoff handed to the British representative at Copenhagen were handed back to him without being opened?

THE PRIME MINISTER

That does not in the least conflict with the answer I have given.

Mr. HOGGE

Will the right hon. Gentleman not take some means to get knowledge of these negotiations? What is the use of a responsible Minister like M. Lit- vinoff handing these to the choice of my right hon. Friend—the hon. Member for Leeds—if he is not to take the trouble to inquire what they are?

THE PRIME MINISTER

If the Soviet authorities in Russia want to make peace they must make it with the people with whom they are at war—with General Denikin, General Koltchak, and others. They must make peace amongst themselves first.

Captain REDMOND

Make peace in Ireland.