§ 4. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any replies have been received from the neutral Governments to the Allied Notes requesting their co-operation in a, form of blockade of Soviet Russia; if so, what these replies are; and whether the Government of the United States of North America is cooperating actively in this form of blockade?
Mr. HARMSWORTHNo replies have yet been received from the neutral Governments to the Note addressed to them by the Allied and Associated Governments asking them to co-operate in the exercise of economic pressure on Soviet Russia. The text of what purports to be the reply of the German Government was published in the Press on Friday, 31st October. I have no information as to whether this text is accurate or not. Such measures of economic pressure as are being applied are being enforced uniformly by all the principal Allied and Associated Powers, including the United States.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs the hon. Gentleman aware that that answer was drafted before yesterday, because in the papers yesterday we noticed that Switzerland has also given a reply, which was published?
§ 54. Mr. SWANasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that the Russian Soviet Government had declared that the blockade of Soviet Russia by any country would be deemed to be an act of war on the part of that country, it was the policy of the Allies to bring pressure to bear on Germany and neutrals to cooperate in a Russian war?
Mr. HARMSWORTHThe exercise of economic pressure on the Soviet Government does not imply a state of war, whatever declaration that Government may make. The question therefore does not arise.