Mr. J. RAMSAY MacDONALD(by Private Notice) asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Note to Russia is authentic, as published in the Press to-day, and, in view of the Premier's letter to the right hon. Member for East Newcastle (Mr. A. Henderson)—that if action is taken it will be submitted to the judgment of this House—whether a day is to be given for Debate, so that the House may have a Division as well?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe text of the Note to Russia was communicated to the Press officially. I hope that by this evening there will be in the Vote Office a White Paper, which will include the text of the Note. If action be taken, full opportunity will be given for a Debate and a Division.
Mr. MacDONALDAs I understand it, action may be taken within ten days. The House is adjourning next Thursday, and it will be desirable to have a day for the discussion of this action before it takes place.
§ Mr. BALDWINOf course, if the hon. Member desires a Debate on this subject before the answer is received, it must be a somewhat restricted Debate. I can raise no objection to that, and it could be secured with ease by taking a continuation of the Foreign Office Vote on Tuesday next.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYMay we assume that no action will be taken after the reply has been received until this House has had the whole facts before it, and has had an opportunity for discussion?
§ Mr. BALDWINNo, my hon. and gallant Friend must not assume that, but it will be open to him afterwards to take part in what will be virtually a Vote of Censure on the Government.
§ Mr. WALLHEADAfter action has been taken?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that any sudden rupture will cause much loss on contracts to British firms who are carrying on trade—[HON. MEMBERS: "No, no!"]—and who in some cases have advanced British money on credit?
§ Mr. BALDWINThat of course will be one of the principal lines of argument in the Debate.
§ Sir JOHN SIMONMay I ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer could he not see his way, at any rate, to say—since I think ten days' notice is given by the Note—that the Government do not intend to take any further action until the Debate on Tuesday.
§ Mr. BALDWINMy right hon. and learned Friend is as well aware as anyone in this House that the responsibility for such action, if it be taken, must rest with the Government. I could give him many precedents where action of this kind has been taken on the responsibility of the Government, and has been debated in this House afterwards.
Captain BENNDoes not the Chancellor of the Exchequer think that the pledge given by the Prime Minister, that such action would be submitted to the House, means submitting it in time to stop it if it be wrong?
§ Mr. BALDWINIf my hon. and gallant Friend will again read that statement, with which I am perfectly familiar, he will see that only one interpretation can be placed on the word "action."
Mr. MacDONALDQuite apart from the textual meaning of the letter, does not my right hon. Friend consider that if we are to have a Debate on Tuesday on the subject, it would be, at any rate, courteous to the House not to take action until after that Debate, seeing that the time is so short?
§ Mr. BALDWINMy hon. Friend is anticipating very, very early action.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIt is an ultimatum.
§ Mr. BALDWINWe shall, of course, be perfectly prepared for the Debate on Tuesday and, of course, if the House of Commons decides against us we must resign.
§ Mr. CLYNESIs it not the fact that so far as we have had any diplomatic or trade relations with Russia, those relations were sanctioned by this House after discussion, and would it not therefore have been proper to have taken the opinion of this House before taking any steps to break off those relations?
§ Mr. BALDWINI cannot agree with my right hon. Friend on that point.