2. Lieut.-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any evidence was found, as the result of the raid by the Chinese Government on the Russian Embassy at Peking, of anti-British activities being carried on by the Soviet officials in China; and, if so, what action he proposes to take?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI presume my hon. and gallant Friend refers to the raid on Soviet premises in the Legation quarter at Peking; there has been no raid on the Russian Embassy. His Majesty's Minister reports that the Chinese authorities are making rapid progress with the examination of the documents found on the Soviet premises, and are now publishing them periodically in booklet form, with translations arid reproductions of photographs. Until my right hon. Friend has received and examined these documents, I cannot add anything to the answer given on 26th April to the questions put by my hon. Friends the Members for Reading and South Kensington.
Sir F. HALLIs there any possibility of receiving this information? Are they getting on with the publication of the White Book?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI understand this information is being published in separate small books, and as they are ready they will be sent over here. As a matter of fact, I believe the first is already on its way.
§ Sir W. DAVISONWill our representative be instructed to cable any papers that affect this country without waiting for the transmission of the books, which it will take months to send over?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONAs I said, they are being sent over in small instalments, and I do not think it would be advisable to try to summarise them. We want to see each as a whole.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs my hon. Friend aware that very definite information is already available in this country as to 1161 money coming from Moscow for attacks on British interests, and does he think the Foreign Office will get some of this information in their hands?
§ Mr. THURTLEIs the hon. Gentleman aware that some of his die-hard friends are very short of ammunition?
§ Mr. PALINGWill the hon. Gentleman's Department take all steps necessary to prove the genuineness of these documents and other information before it is published in this country?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI do not know that there is any question of publication in this country. I am referring to documents which are being published by the Chinese, and they are sending them over in instalment form, and directly they come my right hon. Friend will most carefully consider them.
§ Mr. PALINGIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this kind of thing is becoming more and more associated with the Foreign Office, and does he not think it is a thing to be guarded against, and that in future more care should be taken to prove the authenticity of documents before they are published?
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe cannot argue that now.
Mr. THORNEAre there competent translators? Are the books sent over in Chinese and translated or are they translated in Shanghai before being sent over?