§ 6. Mr. DOUGLAS HACKINGasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can now make a full statement to the House regarding the religious persecution in Russia?
§ Mr. L'ESTRANGE MALONEOn a point of Order. On 27th March I put a question relating to religious persecution in other countries, but it was sent back to me as being out of order. May I ask why this question is in order?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI cannot call to mind the particular question to which the hon. Member refers and therefore cannot give him an answer on the spur of the moment, but I will look into the matter again.
§ Mr. THURTLEFurther to that point of Order. May we assume, in view of the fact that this question is considered to be in order, that it is in order for hon. Members to put down questions relating to alleged religious persecution which may be taking place in countries other than Russia?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI could not give an answer to that without seeing the question.
§ Mr. MALONEMay I read the question to you, Sir?
§ Mr. SPEAKERNot during Question Time.
Mr. A. HENDERSONNo, Sir. I do not think I can usefully add anything to the various statements in which I have already indicated the attitude of His Majesty's Government towards this question.
§ Sir WILLIAM DAVISONHas the right hon. Gentleman read the report of the annual meeting of Protestant ministers held yesterday, where a resolution was unanimously passed with regard to this religious persecution in Russia, and asking what the Government were doing in the matter; and does he not think, especially as Baptists and Congregationalists were included in that meeting, that he ought to take some active steps to deal with the question?
§ Sir K. WOODIs it true that there was increased persecution in Russia about Eastertime?
§ Major GRAHAM POLEHas my right hon. Friend seen the report in the "Morning Post" that on Easter Sunday the churches in Moscow were filled to overflowing?