§ 4. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the protest made by the Parliament of the North Caucasian Republic to the Allied representative, Colonel Haskel, against the invasion of their territory by the so-called volunteer army under the orders of General Denikin, K.C.B.; whether he is aware that charges of murder, violation of women, and defiling of mosques have been brought against these volunteer troops; and what steps it is proposed to take to test the truth of these allegations and to make certain that British munitions are not being used to maltreat the people of Northern Caucasia?
Mr. HARMSWORTHThe attention of His Majesty's Government has been drawn, if not to this particular protest, at least to many others of a similar nature. I must add that we have received quite as many in the contrary sense, alleging intrigue with the Bolsheviks, Germans and Turks, and interference with General Denikin's communications on the part of some of the inhabitants of these regions. With the concurrence of General Denikin, a British Officer has been sent to the territory of the so-called North Caucasian Republic, the independence of which I must remind the House has not been recognised either by His Majesty's Government or the Peace Conference, with a view to arranging a settlement.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs this British officer acting for the War Office or for the hon. Gentleman's Department, the Foreign Office?
§ 15. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware or threats made by the British Military Mission with General Denikin to the insurgents against Denikin in the North Caucasus that unless they submit British tanks and munitions will be used against them; is this suppression of non-Russian and non-Bolshevik races part of the War Office policy in Russia; and does it apply also to the Kuban Cossacks and to Georgia?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Churchill)The answer is in the negative.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWill the right hon. Gentleman say exactly what the policy of the Government is towards the North Caucasian State and whether it is regulated by his Department or the Foreign Office, and whether we have a representative in that country at all?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLYes, there is a representative in the North Caucasian State, and one of the representatives of the British Government is General Denikin; as my hon. Friend knows, an hon. Member of this House, Mr. Mac-kinder, is going out as High Commissioner to cover the affairs of both the Denikin area and also of the North Caucasian State. The policy of the British Government may really be summed up in trying to make sure that there is no collision between them, if it can possibly be avoided by our good offices.
§ Mr. LAMBERTCan he say what are the powers of this High Commissioner?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt certainly does not arise out of this question, but a full statement could be made if it were raised at a proper opportunity.
§ Mr. PEMBERTON BILLINGWill the right hon. Gentleman say that nothing that may have been said elsewhere will in any way alter the policy of the War Office?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThere is no such thing as the policy of the War Office; it is the policy of the Government.
§ Lord HENRY CAVENDISH-BENTINCKIs there any such thing as the policy of the Government?
§ Captain WEDGWOOD BENNWould the right hon. Gentleman, if a question were put down, give us particulars of how many wars we are supplying munitions for?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am sure my hon. and gallant Friend is a reader of the newspapers, and I think they contain all the information.
Mr. J. JONESSeeing that all parties in this House are equally interested in the foreign policy of the Government, would it not be well that a joint commission should go to Russia, and not an individual supporter of the Government?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe question of the appointment of a High Commissioner to look after British interests and British policy in a particular part of the world is a matter which rests with the Executive Government as long as the Executive Government retains the confidence of the House of Commons.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask whether the policy which he has enunciated of preventing collisions between these nationalities applies to the Ukraine, and are we using our good offices there also?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI was speaking of the North Caucasus, to which we had to go when the Turks were driven out, and where, consequently we acquired certain responsibilities which we are endeavouring to discharge. We have never at any time had any representative in the Ukraine.