§ 34. Mr. RAPERasked the Prime Minister if it has now been arranged for the Russian Soviet Government to send representatives to the forthcoming conference at Genoa; if so, whether any conditions governing their attendance have been raised by His Majesty's Government and/or the Russian Soviet Government; and whether the personnel of the Russian delegation has yet been decided upon?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINIn reply to the first and second parts of the question, I have nothing to add to the answer which the Prime Minister gave to the right hon. Member for South Molton on the 13th February. The Russian Soviet Government has advised the Italian Government by telegram that their delegation will consist of: V. I. O. Lenin, G. V. Chicherin, L. B. Krassine, M. M. Litvinof, A. A. Joffe, V. Vorovsky, and nine others.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODHave any steps been taken to protect these gentlemen from assassination?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIn view of the personnel of the Russian delegation, will the right hon. Gentleman make sure that the Secretary of State for the Colonies is sent as one of our representatives?
§ Sir W. DAVISONHave these gentlemen given the assurances asked for by the French Government?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI have nothing to add to the answer given by the Prime Minister on that matter some three weeks ago.
§ Mr. RAPERAre we then to understand that there are no conditions whatsoever attaching to their attendance?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINNo. If my hon. Friend will be good enough to look at the Prime Minister's answer to which I have referred, he will see that is not what is to be understood from my answer.
§ Sir W. DAVISONWas not the Prime Minister's answer simply that these gentlemen had accepted invitations but had entirely ignored giving the assurances asked for?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINIf the hon. Gentleman is anxious to have the answer of the Prime Minister, which is present to my mind, I will read it. It is:
Russia has accepted the invitation of the Italian Prime Minister. In the invitation sent to Russia, special attention is called to the paragraphs mentioned in the question. An aceptance has been received without any protest or qualification in respect of those paragraphs."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 13th February, 1922; col. 578, Vol. 150.]
§ 35. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister whether the United States Government's unwillingness to take part in the Genoa Conference will lead to any alteration in the date of and the arrangements for that Conference; and whether the United States Government has expressed any objection to attending the Conference on the ground of the possible presence at that Conference of representatives of the Russian Government?
§ 45. Viscount CURZONasked the Prime Minister whether the decision of the United States not to take part in the Genoa Conference in any way affects the attitude of His Majesty's Government towards that Conference or will affect in any way the holding of the Conference; and, if not, on what date the Conference will assemble?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe answer to the first part of question 35 and to No. 45 is in the negative. The meeting of the Conference is fixed for 10th April. The views of the United States Government in regard to the Conference were stated in their Note, the full text of which was in the papers of 10th March.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYHas the right hon. Gentleman observed the very wide publicity given to the alleged reason why the United States Government refused to enter into conference with the representatives of the Russian Government, and is it so or not so?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI prefer to leave the explanation of the motives of the American Government to the, American Government. They have published such statements as they thought proper, and it would be improper for me to add to them.