§ l. Lieutenant-Colonel Sir S. HOAREasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Bolshevists have adopted the regular policy of taking and murdering hostages, including the wives and children of anti-Bolshevists; and whether he can give the House any information in this connection?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Cecil Harmsworth)There is good reason to believe that this is the case. His Majesty's Government have information to the effect that wives and children of officers who have been forced to join the Red Army are kept as hostages, and that in case the officers desert their wives and children are arrested or cut off from all food supplies.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs it not a fact that the same practices are carried out by the anti-Bolshevists?
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHI have no information to that effect.