§ 27. Mr. A. WILLIAMSasked the Prime Minister if any instructions regarding the work of political trade delegations, aiming at the achievement of a world revolution, have been recently issued by the Soviet Government of Russia; and, if so, whether they are believed to have been issued before or since the recent signing of a trade agreement with this country?
§ 43. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to a series of instructions to Russian trade delegations abroad issued by the executive committee of the Third International, of which Lenin is the president; whether he is aware that it is provided, in the first paragraph of the said instructions, that trade relations must always be made to serve the interests of Communist propaganda of the Third International under the direct control of its executive committee, and that the object of primary importance to be kept in view by the said trade delegations is the spreading of discontent among workmen and soldiers, and the preparation of strikes and disturbances; whether any representations have been made to the Russian Soviet Government as to the said instructions to trade delegations, having regard to the last two paragraphs of the preamble to the Russian trade agreement; and whether any and, if so, what steps are being taken to prevent trade delegates from Russia from carrying out the instructions of the Third International for the stirring up of revolutionary movements in the countries to which they are accredited?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Lloyd George)As was stated by the Leader of the House, in reply to similar questions on the 6th April, His Majesty's Government are prepared to take appropriate action should the necessity arise. Meanwhile, I have received from M. Krassin a categoric denial of the authenticity of the document which recently appeared in the Press, and to which the Leader of the House referred in an answer given on the 6th April.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs it not a fact that the opinions expressed in this document accurately represent the opinions of the Third International?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWhat really concerns us is whether the trade agreement has been infringed or not. If the Moscow Government had sanctioned the issue of a document of this kind, there is no doubt it would have been a gross infringement of the trade agreement, and we should have had to act accordingly. Now I understand that their statement is that this document, which purported to be issued by the Moscow Government, is a forgery.
§ Mr. A. WILLIAMSWill His Majesty's Government inquire from the newspaper which published this document where they got it, and how they came to publish it without first assuring themselves of its authenticity?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWe have got a good deal of work, and if the Government were to investigate every statement that appears in the newspapers, there would be no end to the bureaucracy that would be set up.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs it not much more important than any ordinary statement appearing in the newspapers?