§ 32. Mr. BOTTOMLEYasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that Mr. George Lansbury during a recent visit to Russia endeavoured to suborn British military prisoners of war from their allegiance to the King; and what steps it is proposed to take in the matter?
§ The PRIME MINISTERReports have been received from certain of the prisoners of war recently in Russia to the effect that Mr. Lansbury had spoken to them in Moscow in praise of the Bolshevik régime and in favour of Socialism generally, but I have no evidence to the effect that he suborned, or endeavoured to suborn, their allegiance to His Majesty.
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is at present in possession of the War Office signed statements by many of these prisoners to the effect that Mr. Lansbury said that if they would become Bolsheviks and support the Soviet Government he would undertake to get their release?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI read through all these statements, and that is not my impression of the statements made.
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYHaving regard to the anxiety felt, if I send the right hon. Gentleman copies of these statements, will he look at them again?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, certainly.