HC Deb 13 March 1922 vol 151 cc1753-4
71 and 72. Colonel LAMBERT WARD

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether he has any further information on the subject of the arrest of the British trawler "Magneta" by a Russian warship, and the subsequent wrecking of the vessel with serious loss of life; what steps he intends to take to obtain compensation for this outrage;

(2) whether his attention has been called to the arrest of the British trawler "St. Hubert" by a Russian warship, 10½ miles from the Russian coast; what steps he intends to take to secure her release; and is there any danger of the crew meeting the same fate as the crew of the "Magneta"?

Mr. HARMSWORTH

The British agent at Moscow has been instructed to make a strong protest to the Soviet Government against the arrest of these two vessels, to claim compensation and to ask for the immediate release of the "St. Hubert" and her crew. According to my information, the "St. Hubert" lies in the roads of Murmansk, and there would not therefore appear to be any serious danger of her meeting the same fate as the "Magneta."

Colonel WARD

Will the hon. Gentleman use the resources at his disposal to endeavour to find out if there are any more survivors? At the present moment the names of those lost are very uncertain, and it is causing a very great amount of unnecessary suffering at the port of registry, where the wives of these men are hoping against hope that their husbands may have survived.

Mr. HARMSWORTH

Yes, Sir. I think the two known survivors have already arrived in this country, and I am sure-information could be obtained from them.

Colonel WARD

I have already seen the survivors, and it cannot be obtained from them. They suggest that, possibly, there are other survivors, and they are very anxious that His Majesty's Government should make inquiries.

Viscount CURZON

If a satisfactory reply is not forthcoming from the Russian Government in these two cases, will it make any difference to Mr. Lenin's reception at Genoa?

Mr. HARMSWORTH

That is purely a hypothetical question, but I will make further inquiries, as requested by my hon. and gallant Friend.