§ Mr. SWAN(by Private Notice) asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the statement in the Press to the effect that M. Jean Longuet and M. Frossard, the French delegates to the Conference of the Labour party at South-port, were informed on arrival at Folkestone that they could not be allowed to proceed to Southport; whether this statement is in accordance with the facts; and whether he can give the reasons for this refusal to MM. Jean Longuet and Frossard to attend the Labour Party Conference?
§ Mr. SHORTTIn consequence of allegations received from France as to the real object of their visit, all the French delegates to the Conference at Southport were stopped pending inquiries—two at Folkestone and four in London. They were all subsequently allowed to proceed to Southport, which four of them did, but the two gentlemen at Folkestone preferred to return to Paris.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYFrom what source did the allegations come?
§ Mr. SHORTTI cannot possibly mention the source, but it was one which it was absolutely impossible for us to ignore.
§ Mr. R. RICHARDSONDoes the right hon. Gentleman know that the same people have been to Labour party conferences for years past, and nothing whatever has arisen to do any harm?
§ Mr. SHORTTNo such allegations have been made about them before.
§ Mr. WATERSONAre we to understand that these gentlemen are convicted before they are tried?
§ Mr. SHORTTNo. They were detained pending inquiries, and were then allowed to go on. There was no conviction.
§ Mr. SWANDoes it harmonise with British liberty that these men should be stopped in this manner, and is it not likely to promote discord between us and other people?
§ Mr. SHORTTIf the hon. Member had been Home Secretary he would have done the same.