§ 52. Captain W. BENNasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will circulate the terms of the communication to the Soviet Government proposing that a Commission of Inquiry appointed by the League of Nations should visit Russia?
Mr. HARMSWORTHThe communication in question can be found in the Press of 15th March of this year. I propose to publish it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
The communication was as follows:
The Council of the League of Nations, having been invited to consider the possibility of despatching a Commission to Russia, has decided to constitute a Commission with the view to collecting impartial and trustworthy information of the actual state of that country. The permanent secretariat of the League is charged to inquire of the Soviet authorities if they are prepared to recognise the right of the Commission to cross without hindrance the frontiers, going and coming; to take measures to assure its complete liberty to move about, communicate, and investigate; and to guarantee the absolute immunity and dignity of its members and the inviolability of their correspondence, archives, and belongings. The Commission will enter on its functions immediately these facilities and rights are formally assured it by the Soviet authorities. Directly an affirmative reply has been received the composition of the Commission will be notified with as little delay as possible.