§ 55. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will issue a White Paper giving the recent British Note to the Russian Soviet authorities, together with the appendices containing extracts from speeches and articles in the official Russian Press in support of the statements made in the British Note?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINAs the text of the British Note, together with the appendices, were given to the Press, I do not consider it necessary to incur the expense of issuing a White Paper.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs my right hon. Friend aware that they have not appeared, except in the most abbreviated form, in the Press, and that it is desirable that the facts should be as widely known as possible, because the public are forgetful of the facts unless they are sufficiently brought before them.
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI thought it had had a pretty wide circulation, but if that is not so, I will lay it as a White Paper.
§ Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERWill the Tight hon. Gentleman at the same time give specific instances in which the Russian Government have done acts against the British?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThat will be found in the appendix.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSWill the right hon. Gentleman also include the reply of the Russian Government?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINYes, I propose to do that.
§ Commander OLIVER LOCKER-LAMPSON(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply His Majesty's Government intend to make to the communication received from the Soviet Government?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINHis Majesty's Government do not propose to send a reply.
§ Commander LOCKER-LAMPSONMay I ask the Prime Minister whether a debate on this subject will be promised?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have not had notice of that question, but there is, I believe, a private Member's Motion coming soon, on which it can be discussed, and there is the Consolidated Fund Bill.
§ Commander LOCKER-LAMPSONI hope we are not going to be fobbed off with three hours' discussion!
§ Sir W. DAVISONArising out of the Foreign Secretary's reply, the House is not to understand, I hope, that no action is going to be taken on this Note from the Soviet authorities. Will the Foreign Secretary say what action the Government now propose to take?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat question has been answered.