§ 30. Mr. PONSONBYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the attention of His Majesty's Government has been drawn to a speech made by M. Litvinoff, at the closing session of the Central Executive Committee of the Soviet Union at Moscow on 25th April, in which the acting People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs expressed the willingness of his Government to enter into negotiations with His Majesty's Government with a view to finding a way out of the present deadlock in the relations of the two countries; and whether, in view of this statement by M. Litvinoff, His Majesty's Government intend taking any steps in the matter?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI have seen a very brief report of M. Litvinoff's speech. The attitude of His Majesty's Government has been indicated more than once. If the Soviet Government have any definite proposals to make us of a reasonable kind, we are prepared to consider them, provided we can be assured that the negotiations will not be used only as cover for continued propaganda against British interests.