§ 8. Sir ASSHETON POWNALLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Soviet Ambassador has presented his credentials on his appointment?
§ 12. Captain EDENasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure the approval by Parliament of the terms of the Anglo-Russian agreement, as embodied in the protocol, before it is ratified by the exchange of ambassadors?
Mr. HENDERSONI have nothing to add to the reply which I returned on Monday, the 9th December, to similar questions put by the hon. and gallant Member for the Isle of Wight (Captain Macdonald) and the hon. Member for East Toxteth (Mr. Mond).
§ Captain EDENMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman does not appreciate that those answers do not reply to the question on the Paper. May I, therefore, again ask him what steps he is taking to obtain the approval of Parliament to the ratification as laid down in the terms of his own Protocol?
Mr. HENDERSONThere may be a difference of opinion as to when an answer is an answer to a question on the Paper. I think that with the first answer and all the supplementaries the question has been very fully covered.
§ Captain EDENDoes not the right hon. Gentleman appreciate the very real seriousness of proceeding to the ratification of this agreement when the terms in his own Protocol are unfulfilled by him?
Mr. HENDERSONThis is, in my opinion, a dispute about one word. I intimated to the House in my reply on Monday that if a mistake had been made, and we should have used the words "House of Commons" instead of the word "Parliament," in order to give effect to the pledge of the Prime Minister, then the blame rests upon me.
§ Captain EDENThe right hon. Gentleman must see that this is a very serious matter. May I ask what he is going to do to alter the position in the terms of his own Protocol?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREAre we to understand from that last reply that the use of the word "Parliament" by His Majesty's present Government always means the House of Commons?
Mr. HENDERSONNo, the right hon. Member must not conclude anything of the kind. I gave a reply on Monday in which I said that we were trying to fulfil the condition made by the Prime Minister when he said the subject bad to be put before this House, and it has been put before this House, and there was a large majority in favour of the Protocol.
§ Captain EDENrose—
§ Mr. KIRKWOODWe have had five supplementary questions already!
§ Captain EDENI beg to give notice that, in view of the unsatisfactory nature 438 of the right hon. Gentleman's reply, I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.