§ 13. Mr. TAYLORasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can now state upon what terms he would be. prepared to enter into negotiations for a settlement of all outstanding questions between Great Britain and Russia?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONAs my right hon. Friend has stated already, His Majesty's Government would require definite guarantees that the Soviet Government would respect their engagement to abstain from anti-British propaganda and would recognise in principle the financial obligations of Russia.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSMight I ask the hon. Gentleman if this Government would also give a definite undertaking that there 6hould be no anti-Russian propaganda?
Mr. MARDY-JONESMay I ask whether the Government have any evidence of anti-Russian propaganda by the Russian Government?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGECan the hon. Gentleman say whether this Government arc carrying out any anti-Russian propaganda in Russia as the Russian Government is doing in England?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONCertainly not. In reply to the supplementary question put by the hon. Member for Pontypridd (Mr. Mardy Jones) I may say that we have plenty of evidence.
§ Mr. TAYLORDoes not the hon. Gentleman think that, in view of the fact that we rejected the Treaty negotiated with Russia by a former British Government, it is the duty of the British Government to state which parts of the Treaty are unacceptable to them. and why surrender the initiative to Russia?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI have already explained in answer to a question that we have objected to the Treaty as a whole. The Soviet Government know 2083 that perfectly well and they have only to make constructive proposals for us to consider them.
§ Mr. MARDY JONESWill the Government lay the evidence they have against Russia in this matter on the Table of the House?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONMy right hon. Friend, in answer to a question the other day, said that he was quite prepared to give a list of the dates on which these incidents of the interviews have taken place, and it is being prepared now.
§ Commander WILLIAMSArising out of the original answer, can the Under-Secretary say if the Soviet Government have shown any inclination to withdraw or abstain from this propaganda?
§ Mr. TAYLORDo I understand from the hon. Gentleman's reply that, providing Russia is agreeable to enter into a recognition of the two principles which he has stated, the British Government are willing to commence negotiations for a full settlement of all outstanding questions between the two countries?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONMy right hon. Friend has stated on various occasions in this House that if the Russian Government guarantee that they will stop this anti-British propaganda. and recognise their obligations like any other civilised community, then it will be possible to enter into negotiations.
§ Mr. NEIL MACLEANrose,—
§ Mr. SPEAKERI have allowed quite enough Supplementary Questions.