§ 24. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government is seeking to renew negotiations with the Russian Government with a view to an amnesty for and the repatriation of the refugees of Russian nationality who are at present being supported by the British Treasury; and whether he will lay the previous correspondence on this subject upon the Table for the information of hon. Members?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Cecil Harmsworth)His Majesty's Government will be prepared to renew negotiations if and when the Soviet Government show any disposition to grant an amnesty and admit the refugees under British control into Russia. It is not proposed to lay the correspondence on this subject on the Table of the House, especially as the Foreign Office letter of 31st October last to Monsieur Krassin, which dealt fully with this question, was communicated to the Press.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYAs we are actually paying for these unfortunate people, ought we not to take the initiative in making another attempt to see if they can be otherwise disposed of?
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHWe shall carefully consider that, but our former approaches were not met in a very friendly spirit.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILWhy does the Government not propose to lay the correspondence?
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHI should like to examine the correspondence again myself, but I think there is a great deal of objection to the unnecessary multiplication of White Papers.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODDoes not the hon. Gentleman understand that it is to our interest that these repatriations should take place?
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHI think I understand it a great deal better than any other Member of the House.