§ 45. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the speech of the Secretary of State for India at the Birkenhead Hippodrome on Saturday evening last, in which he described Russia as a by-word in the world, a place where there was no law, and where murders, were weekly and daily ordained by a subterranean revolutionary committee, and further described the Russian Government as a junta of swollen frogs; whether these epithets were applied to a Government with whom we have official relations, after consultation with the Cabinet; and, if not, whether they represent the policy of the Government?
§ Commander O. LOCKER-LAMPSONBefore the right hon. Gentleman replies might I ask him whether Lord Birkenhead said anything which Lord Curzon did not say four years ago, which the Foreign Secretary has not in substance said; and whether there is a single statement in Lord Birkenhead's speech which is not indisputably true?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. and gallant Member wants to argue the matter.
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Baldwin)My attention has not been called to the speech in question. The policy of the Government upon a given topic is to be collected from the speeches generally of Ministers. It is not customary nor would it be possible for individual Ministers to consult the Cabinet upon the terms of their forthcoming speeches. Upon the general matter referred to in the question the policy and views of the Government have just been very elaborately explained in a Note to the Union of Soviet Republics by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask whether it was not in a speech that the Secretary of State for India committed the same offence which His Majesty's Government charged against the Soviet Government, namely, abuse by a Minister of another Government?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is a matter which should be argued in debate. We must not anticipate the debate.