§ 8. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any protest or Note has been received from the Governments of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics or from its representatives concerning the police raid on the premises of Arcos and the Russian trade delegation; if so, whether any reply has been sent; and what is its nature?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONyes, Sir; the Note of the Soviet Chargé d'Affaires was communicated by the Soviet Mission to the Press and has appeared in the daily papers. No reply has yet been made by His Majesty's Government.
§ 10. Mr. R. HUDSONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Soviet Chargé d'Affaires on Thursday, 12th May, asked for an interview at the Foreign Office; if so, at what hour this request was made and what was the reply; whether any request was subsequently made by the Soviet Chargé d'Affaires for an interview at the House of Commons that even with any member of His Majesty's Government; and, if so, what was the answer returned to this request?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONThe Soviet Chargé d'Affaires, having failed to reach my right hon. Friend on the telephone, called at the Foreign Office about seven o'clock on the evening of 12th May. The Foreign Secretary had however already left the Foreign Office, as had the Under-Secretaries. M. Rosengolz was received by a junior official who was naturally not in a position to discuss the question with him. My right hon. Friend saw M. Rosengolz himself at 11.30 next morning. I have no knowledge of any request having been made by M. Rosengolz on the previous evening for an interview at the House of Commons with any member of His Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. R. HUDSONWould it not have been in accordance with the usual diplomatic procedure to have refrained until he had had an opportunity of speaking to the Foreign Secretary from making representations to the Opposition?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI think you must leave it to the discretion of every foreign representative to interview the particular person he desires.
§ Mr. CLYNESIs it not a fact that the first person M. Rosengolz desired to see was the Foreign Secretary?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI have already pointed out that my right hon. Friend took the very earliest opportunity of seeing M. Rosengolz.
§ Mr. J. HUDSONOn a point of Order. Is it in order for a Member of this House to suggest that there is any improper procedure on the part of either a member of the general public in this country or a member of any foreign country interviewing any Member of this House, no matter to what party he may belong, for the purpose of bringing forward a, case according to the rules of this House?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI do not think any points of order arise out of this. It is clearly a matter for the person concerned, and does not concern either the House or the Government. All we have to deal with is Governmental responsibility.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs it not a very grave breach of ordinary international etiquette?
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs it not the case that whoever the representative of the Soviet Embassy or Arcos desired to see first, the party whom he did see first was a Member of the Opposition?
§ Mr. W. THORNEWhat has that got to do with it? He would not go to see you, anyhow. [interruption.]
§ Mr. KIRKWOODI would like to ask the hon. Member what it was that the Government expected to find when they went to Arcos? Were they looking for the photograph of the Home Secretary?
§ Mr. LANSBURYIs it not a fact that, in the year 1914, Lord Carson consulted and lunched with the Kaiser in reference to arms for Ulster? [Interruption.] You cannot deny it. It is absolutely true. There were shiploads of them from the Kaiser to Carson. [Interruption.]
§ Mr. SPEAKERThese are extra mural proceedings.
§ 51. Mr. CADOGANasked the Home Secretary whether the secret State document, which was the subject of the search of the Arcos buildings, was stolen 1168 from a Government office; if so, from which office it was stolen; and whether the thief or thieves have been identified, or whether the arrest of any person or persons suspected of the theft or in any way implicated in the theft has been effected?
§ Captain HACKINGI shall be glad if my hon. Friend would defer his question till to-morrow, when my right hon. Friend proposes to make a full statement.