§ 3. Mr. MACLEANasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any documents, similar in contents to the Zinovieff letter, were in the possession of His Majesty's Government in 1923; whether any consideration was given them by the Cabinet; whether any communication was made to the Russian Government on the documents; and, if so, whether such correspondence has been, or will be, published?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The other parts do not, therefore, arise.
§ Mr. MACLEANWere there no communications placed before the Cabinet in that year—communications of the same character as the Zinovieff letter?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the hon. Gentleman aware that wide currency has been given to statements by members of his own party in high positions that there were several documents of this sort, and how does he reconcile that with his answer?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONIt is true that there were several very objectionable documents, but not of this character.
§ Mr. MACLEANIf there were several objectionable documents—objectionable to the Government in office at that time—will the hon. Gentleman do what he is asked to do in the question, that is, see that these documents are published so that the public can understand them?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONThey were published. If the hon. Gentleman will look at Command Paper 1869 of 1923 he will see that they were published.