HC Deb 13 July 1920 vol 131 cc2145-6
47. Mr. RAPER

asked the Prime Minister whether he has now had an opportunity of reading the copies of letters implicating Lieutenant-General Sir Hubert Gough, head of the late Inter Allied Military Mission in Finland, Commander Harold Grenfell, late naval attaché, and Professor Cotter, late Press attaché, at the British Legation, Helsingfors, as being associated with a notorious Bolshevik agent in Helsingfors; and what action the Government purposes taking in this matter?

4. Mr. L'ESTRANGE MALONE

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any documents have been sent to London by the British Minister in Finland and received by the Foreign Office implicating General Sir Hubert Gough, late head of the Inter-Allied Military Mission in Finland, Commander Grenfell, formerly head of a Naval Mission to Finland, and Professor Cotter, late Press Attaché to the British Legation in Helsingfors, in plotting to introduce a Bolshevist regime in this country?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I have read the copies of the letters referred to, but I do not consider that they call for any action on the part of His Majesty's Government.

Mr. RAPER

May I ask whether it is not a fact that the officers referred to in my question are described as being absolutely Red, and in the correspondence they also express an earnest wish that the agent referred to may come over here?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I found it difficult to have patience to read the letters, which, to a prosaic mind like mine, seemed nonsense: but I do not think they call for any action.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the hon. Member for East Islington (Mr. Raper) dined with this notorious Bolshevik agent in Helsingfors, and is he satisfied that the letters in question are genuine?

Mr. BONAR LAW

No, Sir, I have no information beyond what I have given. I have read the letters, and I do not think they call for any action.

Mr. C. PALMER

Do not these letters clearly show that these British officers were philandering with this woman, who is an agent of the Reds?

Mr. BONAR LAW

There is nothing in the letters, except what other people say, to affect General Gough. As regards the other gentleman, he retired from the position of Naval Attaché, and is on the Retired List. I do not think we really need take further notice of it.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

In view of the fact that attacks have been made on officers who have no opportunity of replying, I shall raise this on the Motion for the Adjournment on Thursday.