§ 7. Mr. GILBERTasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there has been any change in the personnel of the Russian delegation sent to this country to discuss negotiations with the Soviet Government; if so, will he state what changes have been made; and how many of the original delegates are still in this country and acting in the negotiations?
§ Mr. PONSONBYThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the second part does not, therefore, arise. As far as I am aware, nine of the delegates are at present in this country.
§ 52. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Prime Minister what is the total staff of the Soviet diplomatic and trade delegations now in this country; where their office or offices are situated; and whether the Government are satisfied that no Com- 2094 munist or other propaganda against the laws and institutions of this country is being carried on by any member of the said delegations or of the staffs attached thereto?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. J. Ramsay MacDonald)According to the information at my disposal, the staff of the Soviet Embassy numbers approximately 22 persons and that of the Soviet Trade Delegation 16 persons. The address of the Embassy is 128, New Bond Street, and that of the trade delegation 49, Moorgate Street. With regard to the last part of the question, I have no official information.
§ Sir W. DAVISONDo I understand that the total staffs attached to the trade delegation and the Embassy only number 20 or 30 people?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThirty-eight.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIt is not the case that there is a number like 100 or 200?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is my information.
§ Mr. RONALD McNEILLThe right hon. Gentleman says he has no official information. Does that mean he does not regard this as a matter of any importance, or that there is no means of ascertaining?
§ The PRIME MINISTERCertainly not the former.
§ Mr. McNEILLWill he take some steps to find out?