62. Lieut.-Colonel MALONEasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the question of granting an amnesty to political prisoners in Finland is being discussed in the Finnish Diet very shortly; whether he is aware that over 60,000 persons have been deprived of their civil rights in Finland, and that large numbers are still in gaol; and whether he will use Ins influence, through the good offices of the Supreme Council in Paris, to ensure the granting of personal liberties to those persons?
Mr. HARMSWORTHThe answer to the first part of the hon. and gallant Member's question is in the negative. With regard to the second part of the question, it has been reported in the Finnish Press that a portion of the Red Army was imprisoned by the Finnish Government in the spring of 1919. In answer to the third part of the question, His Majesty's Government would not feel justified in interfering in the internal affairs of Finland.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask if that applies to other parts of the ancient Russian Empire as well as to Finland?