§ 6. Major KINDERSLEYasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that Bank of England notes found on persons described as Irish gunmen, arrested before Easter for being in illegal possession of firearms, have been traced back to a Russian banking institution in this Country, he will make inquiries as to whether any of the moneys 336 standing to the credit of Russian trading organisations in this Country are being used in attempts to foment and organise revolutionary action here?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSMy honourable and gallant Friend's information is correct. I am constantly making inquiries and am satisfied that Russian money is being used as suggested in the question.
§ Major KINDERSLEYWill His Majesty's Government make representations to the League of Nations that a Power which uses the fomenting of revolution as an instrument of policy, should not be associated with its deliberations?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThat is a matter on which I should have to consult my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
§ Mr. SAKLATVALAWill the Home Secretary kindly make clear what the question means as well as the answer? During the process of circulation a particular banknote may have passed through two dozen banks, different British banks. Does he insinuate that this note went directly from the Russian bank to the person in whose possession it was found, or does he mean that during the process of circulation the note passed through a certain bank several times, as through any other hank, before passing into the hands of the person in whose possession it was found?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have answered the question. It is not for me to explain what the question means. The question asked whether certain notes had been found and whether they had been traced to a Russian bank. That is correct.
§ Mr. SAKLATVALAI hope the Home Secretary does not want to be an instrument for the spreading of untruth. Does he mean that the note was traced back immediately to the Russian bank before it came to the culprit, or does he mean that it was also in the Russian bank just as much as it was in two dozen other banks before it came to the culprit?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSIf the hon. Member can tell me that it passed through two dozen banks between its issue by the Rusian bank and its receipt 337 by the culprit, I shall be prepared to consider the information which he gives. I am satisfied that the note found in the possession of the gunman had quite recently been issued by the Russian bank.
§ Mr. ERNEST BROWNAre the persons concerned accurately described as Irish?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSYes.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise the seriousness of the statement that he has made in answer to the question, as affecting the possible future relations between this country and Russia, and has he satisfied himself that his sources of information are as reliable as those which produced the Zinovieff letter?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI was not in office at the time of the Zinovieff letter, and I am not responsible for the Foreign Office. All that I am responsible for is my own Department, and I am quite satisfied that the information is thoroughly accurate and can be substantiated in every detail.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENHas the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been called to the recent report of the Boilermakers' Union in regard to the activities of Soviet agents in that union?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask another question of the Home Secretary?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI think we have had quite enough questions on this subject to-day.