§ 11. Mr. WOMERSLEYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will have inquiries made into the case of David Scott, a British mercantile marine fireman, who was imprisoned in Novorrossisk, Russia, for 12 months, without trial, from December, 1925, to December, 1926, by the Russian authorities, and then deported from the country?
§ 16. Mr. ROBERT YOUNGasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply was given by the Soviet Government to the protest of His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires in Moscow concerning the detention in prison without trial of Mr. David Scott; whether any complaint was laid against Mr. Scott by the Soviet 1742 authorities; and, if not, will any reparation be made to him for wrongful imprisonment?
§ 19. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affair, whether any reply has yet been received to the protest made by His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires in Moscow to the Soviet Government regarding the prolonged detention in gaol without trial and ultimate deportation of Mr. David Scott; and, if no reply has been received, what steps he proposes to take to obtain compensation?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINMy attention was called to this case some little time ago, and His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires in Moscow has protested to the Soviet Government against Mr. Scott's prolonged detention without trial. The charge against Mr. Scott was that of agitation against the Soviet Government, and he was deported from Russia as an undesirable alien. The Soviet Government, in their reply to Sir R. Hodgson's protest, stated that Mr. Scott had been accused of actions contrary to the laws of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and that every step was taken to ensure a speedy investigation of his case.
§ Mr. LUMLEYCan the right hon. Gentleman say if it is the practice in Soviet Russia for a prisoner to be detained for a long time without trial?
§ Miss LAWRENCEHas the attention of the Foreign Secretary been drawn to the fact that Mr. Scott in his printed statement says that he deserted his ship, and entered Soviet Russia by that means, and can the Foreign Secretary tell us what would be the proceedings of the Home Secretary in regard to a similar incident in England?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI certainly could not answer those questions without the notice which they deserve. I am afraid it is the case that the process of bringing people to trial is not so rapid in all other countries as it is habitually in our own country.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether he has taken any steps whatever to obtain compensation for Mr. Scott?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINNo, Sir, I do not think this is a case in which I could claim compensation.
§ Mr. LOOKERMay I ask whether any tangible evidence was adduced by the Soviet Government to substantiate their charges against Mr. Scott?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI think notice ought to be given of that question.