§ 4. Mr. CHARLES BUXTONasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why a passport was refused in September, 1922, to Mr. Andrew Rothstein, a British subject desiring to travel to Russia?
§ Lieut.-Colonel BUCKLEYThe passport was refused because, in view of Mr. Rothstein's intimate connections with the Soviet Government and of the fact that his Russian parentage should entitle him to receive a Russian passport, it did not seem desirable to extend to him the facilities and privileges which the possession of a British passport would confer on him abroad.
§ Mr. BUXTONIs there any precedent for a British subject, who has served in the British Army, being referred to a foreign Power for a passport?
§ Lieut.-Colonel BUCKLEYIf the gentleman is of Russian parentage and is entitled to a Russian passport, is that not good enough for him?
§ Mr. LANSBURYAre there not members of the aristocracy who are of German and Russian descent and all kinds of descent?
§ Captain Viscount CURZONAnd members of the Labour party, too.
§ Mr. LANSBURYYes; why not? I do not confine my remark to any particular class. This is a disgrace. It is done simply because he is only a workman's son.