§ 8. Mr. RAPERasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if lie will consider appointing a Committee consisting of three or four Members of the house who have a knowledge of Russian affairs, political, social, and commercial, three or four men outside the House with similar knowledge, and two or three representatives of the Government Department dealing with Russian affairs, with a view to their advising the Government as to the best methods of furthering the political and commercial interests of, as well as tae social intercourse between, Great Britain and Russia?
Mr. HARMSWORTHI regret that I cannot see my way to adopting the suggestion of my hon. Friend. If, however, an unofficial committee of the kind indicated were established, the Foreign Office would always be ready to give careful consideration to its opinions. In fact, at the present time Members of Parliament and others representing political and business interests have access to the Russian Department of the Foreign Office whenever they like, and their views are always carefully considered.