§ 6. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action has been taken by His Majesty's Government with reference to the open and continuing breaches in China, Great Britain and elsewhere on the part of the Russian Soviet Republic of the express terms of the trade agreement made between that Government and the British Government on the 16th March, 1922?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI cannot use fully add much to the statements made in this House in answer to questions and in debate in the summer. Since then I have made it clear once more to the Soviet Chargé d'Affaires that His Majesty's Government hold the ruling authorities in the Soviet Union responsible for the propaganda conducted against British interests from Russian sources, and that such propaganda is the principal obstacle to any improvement in the relations between the two 380 countries. I hope I may be permitted to express my regret at the death of M. Krassin, the Soviet Chargé d'Affaires, to whom reference is made here.
§ Sir W. DAVISONMay I ask my right hon. Friend whether his attention has been drawn to the express proviso in Clause 13 of the Agreement, which lays it down that if either party engages in propaganda contrary to the introductory paragraph of the Agreement, the other party to the Agreement shall be immediately free from the obligations of the Agreement? Having regard to the fact that it is admitted that one of the parties has committed a breach of the preamble to the Agreement, are we not now free from the obligations of that Agreement?
§ Mr. NEIL MACLEANIs it not the case that many British Members of Parliament go about the country engaging in propaganda denouncing the Soviet Government?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI do not think I can profitably take part in this Debate.