§ 4. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any statement as to the present position in Siberia and the Maritime Province; and are steps being taken to assist British merchants to open up trade with Vladivostock and other Russian ports in the Far East?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe answer to the first part of the question is that a recent report states that Irkutsk has been recaptured from the local Soviet by a remnant of the late Admiral Kolchak's army. General Semenoff is at present in control of Chita. A Zemstvo Government is in power in Vladivostock. With regard to the second part of the question, the present insecurity of the position, and the difficulty of communication do not lend themselves to the promotion of trade, but the matter is not being lost sight of.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs any obstacle being put in the way of trade with these important and rich districts?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODCertainly not. No avoidable obstacle is put in the way of trade with any country.