§ 1. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there has been a declaration of war between His Majesty and the Russian Soviet Government; and what is the position in international law of British soldiers and sailors who may be captured, while fighting on Russian soil, by the Soviet forces?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Cecil Harmsworth)The answer to the first part of the hon. and gallant Member's question 210 is in the negative It would be difficult for me to define the position in international law of the sailors, soldiers and airmen who have been captured by the Soviet forces; but they are as far as I know considered by the Soviet Government to be prisoners of war.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask, as there is no declaration of war, under what international law of equity and justice are we executing a formal blockade against the Soviet Government?
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHThat is a legal point of which the hon. and gallant Gentleman should give notice.