§ 51. Lord APSLEYasked the Prime Minister when the authority of the Union of Soviet Socialist, Republics over the independent Republics of Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia was recognised by His Majesty's Government; whether intimation of this recognition was given to the League of Nations; whether the armed forces of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics are now in occupation of Azerbaijan as well as Georgia and Armenia; and, if not, whether the de facto recognition extended to this independent Republic in January, 1920, will be extended once more?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe three Soviet Republics of Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia are, as a matter of fact, members of the, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and recognition of this fact was implied in the grant of de jure recognition to the Government of the Union by His Majesty's Government on the 1st February last; the military authority of the Union extends to Azerbaijan as well as to Georgia and Armenia.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HOWARD-BURYCan the Prime Minister say whether the price of this bargain with the Union of Soviet Republics was the betrayal of these Republics. [HON. MEMBERS: "Order, order!"]
§ Mr. PRINGLEArising out of the original answer, can the Prime Minister say whether the statement made by one of the British delegates at Geneva, as to the status of Georgia in relation to 487 the British recognition of the Soviet Republics, is in accordance with the statement that he has now made?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI think my hon. Friend would require to put his question in a more precise form.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs the Prime Minister aware that one of the British delegates, namely, Professor Gilbert Murray, stated that the recognition of the Soviet Republics was only in relation to territories where the authority of those Republics was accepted, and that recognition was given by His Majesty's Government expressly for the purpose of showing that there was a reservation in the case of Georgia; and is not that statement contrary to what he has just said?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am afraid I must ask for a little more precise statement. A paraphrase of a speech delivered at Geneva is not quite good enough to base questions upon, but, so far as I can gather, that is exactly what I have said in my answer. As a fact—it is not a question whether it ought to be or ought not to be—as a fact, the military occupation of the Soviet Government extends to Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia, and in the recognition of that Government that fact had to be taken into account. So far as His Majesty's Government is concerned, it has not recognised anything except the existing facts of the case.
§ Mr. PRINGLEAre we to understand that, in fact, no reservation was made in respect of Georgia, and that, when a British delegate at Geneva stated in the Assembly of the League of Nations that such a reservation was made, he was not correctly representing the position of His Majesty's Government?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIf the hon. Member will bring forward the precise words in which the statement was made, I will answer his question.