§ 3. Captain Viscount CURZONasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that a telegram has now been received from the skipper of the Hull trawler "James Johnson," recently seized by Bolshevik pirates off the Murman coast, to the effect that the ship has been confiscated and the captain has been fined £10; that he has no money and that the crew are well; whether His Majesty's Government will promptly take steps to seize an equivalent amount of Soviet property in order to compensate the owners of the vessel and the crew for the privations they have undergone; if not, what action His Majesty's Government propose to take in this particular case and in order to prevent the recurrence of similar cases in future; whether His Majesty's Government will take steps to secure the safe return of the officers and men of the ship; and whether, in view of these and similar incidents, His Majesty's Government propose to tolerate the continued existence of a so-called Soviet trade delegation in this country?
§ 6 and 7. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether the Government are taking any steps to secure the payment of compensation by the Russian Soviet Government to the widow of Mr. C. F. Davison who, as stated by the Foreign Secretary in the Command Paper which has just been issued, was murdered in Petrograd in January, 1920, under revolting circumstances upon trumped-up evidence;
(2) whether the repeated threats on the part of the British Government of giving publicity to the facts in connection with outrages on British subjects in Russia have had any effect in the way of obtaining compensation for the victims or their surviving relatives; and whether, under these circumstances, he will now terminate all official relations with the Russian 425 Soviet Government and request the removal of this specially privileged trade delegation in this country?
§ Mr. McNEILLThe questions relate to a series of acts committed by the Russian Soviet Government, of which British subjects have been the victims. These acts, which have excited the profound indignation of His Majesty's Government and of the country at large, and concerning some of which papers have already been laid before the House, testify to a condition of affairs which demands, and is receiving, the earnest attention of His Majesty's Government. They cannot be considered or treated singly, but are parts of a whole directly affecting the relations between His Majesty's Government and the Soviet Government. It is proposed, without delay, to address a serious communication to the Russian Government on the subject. In the meantime, the British Representative at Moscow will not cease to exert his influence in the strongest possible manner in the case of the trawler mentioned in the Noble Lord's question, where the action of the Soviet authorities is regarded by His Majesty's Government as being wholly without justification.
§ Viscount CURZONWill the hon. Gentleman deal with the third part of my question unless he gets satisfactory assurances, namely, the amount of Soviet property to be seized? Is he aware that the action of the Soviet Government has caused the greatest indignation in the City of Hull?
§ Sir W. DAVISONDoes the Under-Secretary realise the indignation which has been occasioned in the country by reason of the Foreign Secretary simply saying that he would publish the facts when a British citizen has been murdered? Is he not aware that the public were very deeply incensed that further steps were not taken?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the hon. Gentleman not aware that the Admiralty received a deputation from the City of Hull asking for naval protection, which was refused, and that it was whilst naval protection was absent that the outrage occurred?
§ Mr. McNEILLI am aware of the indignation to which the hon. Member (Sir W. Davison) and the hon. and gallant Member (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) 426 have referred, but I think it would be wiser, in view of the answer I have given, that we should see what happens when the communications have been received by the Russian Government.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs the Under-Secretary aware that the people of this country are not anxious to have a new war?
§ Mr. McNEILLI am perfectly aware of that, and it is for that very reason that His Majesty's Government have taken the action which they have taken.
§ Major PAGETWill the Government consider the advisability of re-employing the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) owing to his special qualifications in this matter?
§ Mr. LANSBURYWhat British citizen has been murdered?
§ Mr. McNEILLThe one mentioned by my hon. Friend in his question.
§ Mr. LANSBURYWill the Under-Secretary lay on the Table of the House the evidence in this case?
§ Mr. McNEILLThe hon. Gentleman is apparently not aware that a White Paper has just been laid on this subject.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYAs the hon. and gallant Member for Bosworth (Major Paget) has just made a reflection upon me, is the hon. Gentleman aware that my endeavours in Russia have secured the release of five of our compatriots, and that I have supported the Government in making representations?
§ Mr. McNEILLI was quite aware of that, and I hope that I have not said anything to throw any doubt upon it.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIt was the hon. and gallant Member (Major Paget).