HC Deb 24 November 1920 vol 135 cc413-5
46 and 47. Sir F. HALL

asked the Prime Minister (1) if the Government adhere to their pronouncement of March, 1918, on the financial obligations of Russia, that those obligations continue and will be regarded as binding upon the new State or group of States by which Russia is or will be represented; and if the satisfaction of such obligations will be recognised as a first claim on Russia's financial resources in any agreement which may be entered into to promote intertrading between Great Britain and Russia;

(2) If the conclusion of an agreement with Russia as to the renewal of trading relations would be affected in the event of the Soviet Government making an attack upon Poland, despite the peace treaty recently entered into; whether the Government will ask for satisfactory guarantees that the integrity of Polish territories as now determined shall be respected before a final decision is come to as to an understanding on trading questions; and whether he will undertake that the agreement already entered into shall be discussed fully and freely in the House of Commons before the same is ratified?

Mr. BONAR LAW (Leader of the House)

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the replies which I gave yesterday, and remind him that, if the House so desire, there will be an opportunity of debating these questions.

Sir S. HOARE

Does the right hon. Gentleman propose to circulate the correspondence that has taken place between the Government and the Bolshevik Government before any Debate takes place?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I did not know there was any correspondence relating to this subject that has not been circulated.

Sir F. HALL

May I ask for an explicit "Yes" or "No" to the first part of the question?

Mr. BONAR LAW

What my hon. Friend wishes is that the Government should state now the conditions upon which we should come to any understanding with Russia, and that is not quite so easy.

Sir F. HALL

Are we to understand that the Government adhere to the pronouncement made by the chief delegate in March, 1918, on this subject?

Mr. BONAR LAW

The answer "Yes" or "No" can be given to that readily. It is "Yes."

Sir S. HOARE

Will the right hon. Gentleman look into the matter, and if he finds, as I think he will find, that there is some correspondence which has not been published, have it published before the Debate takes place?

Mr. BONAR LAW

Yes.

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