§ 25. Mr. BOTTOMLEYasked the Prime Minister whether he has now had an opportunity of referring to the signed statements of certain British prisoners of war who were in Russia at the time of Mr. George Lansbury's visit to that country; whether, assuming such statements to be correct, Mr. Lansbury endeavoured to suborn these soldiers from their allegiance to the King; and whether he will submit the statements to the Law Officers of the Crown for their advice as to whether Mr. Lansbury should be prosecuted?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, Sir. I have read the statements referred to, but I can add nothing to the replies which I gave on 26th October.
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that one of the statements contained this phrase:
Mr. Lansbury said, 'If I would turn Bolshevist he would undertake to obtain my immediate release.'Does the right hon. Gentleman want the advice of the Law Officers of the Crown to convince him that that is a criminal offence?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have a full statement of the evidence with me. I went through it the last time this question was raised, and again this morning, and I am perfectly convinced that, on the evidence, even if it were unshaken on cross-examination, we could not prosecute.
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYHas the right hon. Gentleman consulted the Law Officers of the Crown?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThey are very busy men, and I would not submit it to them unless I thought there was a primâ facie case. I am perfectly convinced, on the statement of these gentlemen, that there is not a primâ facie case.
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYIs it not a breach of the law to suborn soldiers from their allegiance to the King?
§ The PRIME MINISTEROf course, it is, but, on the evidence in my possession, that offence was not committed.