§ Sir SAMUEL ROBERTS(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister whether any decision has yet been taken as to the Trade Agreement with Russia?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Cabinet have decided that a draft agreement to carry out the July arrangement for trade with Russia should be prepared, and will, I hope, be ready for submission to the Russian Government in a few days.
§ Mr. RAPERCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether all the terms of the proposed agreement will be submitted to this House before it is signed, and, if not, will it be signed without the unanimous approval of the Cabinet?
§ Mr. BILLINGCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether one of the terms of the agreement will provide that it shall not function until all the British prisoners have returned to this country? Is that one of the conditions, and, if not, will the right hon. Gentleman make it so?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe agreement, as I have already stated, will not be entered into until we are satisfied that the undertaking given by the Soviet Government about our prisoners is being carried out.
§ Sir W. DAVISONWill it be one of the terms of the agreement that the Russian Government gives an acknowledgment of her debt to this country, although at the moment she may not be able to pay?
§ Mr. ADAMSONShall we have an opportunity of discussing the terms of the agreement?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIf the House desires to have a discussion on this 2075 subject, I have no doubt my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House will be able to make arrangements.
§ Major NALLWill there be any safeguard in the agreement to prevent the Russian Government replenishing her arms and ammunition for further aggression?
§ Sir W. DAVISONMay I have an answer to my question, whether the Russian debt of £500,000,000 will be acknowledged?
§ Mr. SPEAKERHon. Members ought to give notice if they attach importance to their questions, in order to give an opportunity to the Minister to examine them.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIt seems to me very germane to ask whether such a very important matter as the acknowledgment of £500,000,000 of debt, or part of it, will be contained in the Treaty?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe more important the question the more necessary it is that it should appear on the Paper, in order that the Minister may see it.
Sir F. HALLOwing to the answer we have received, that the House will have an opportunity of discussing this matter, can we not be informed whether the discussion will take place before the agreement is ratified or not?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt cannot be ratified before Monday, and there is, therefore, plenty of time to put a question down.
§ 34. Mr. HOGGEasked the Prime Minister whether ho will publish the communications which have recently passed between the British and Soviet Governments on the question of reopening trade with Russia?
§ 37. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government have received two further notes from the Russian Government en the subject of peace and trade between the British Empire and Russia; when these notes will be communicated to this House; whether His Majesty's 2076 Government has authorised any form of statement to the Press describing these notes as hostile or offensive in tone; whether any reply has been sent to these two Russian notes; and what is it?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe communications referred to have been received, but it is not proposed to lay these two communications by themselves. The answer to the second part of question No. 37 is in the negative.
§ Mr. HOGGECan my right hon. Friend say if there is any further statement to be made about the new agreement?
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYWhen is it intended to publish these notes, and can he give the House any information in view of the sensational newspaper reports on this subject?
§ Mr. BILLINGCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether all the British prisoners have been released from Russia?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI shall answer another question on that subject later on.