§ 1. Major-General Sir ALFRED KNOXasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to a publication called the "Workers' Daily," which is engaged in hostile propaganda inspired from Soviet sources and is financed by the Third International; and whether he has called the attention of the Soviet Government to this breach of the recent agreement?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Arthur Henderson)If the hon. and gallant Member is referring to the publication known as the "Daily Worker," he will find the answer to his question in my reply to the hon. Member for Gravesend (Mr. Albery) on the 22nd January, to which I have nothing to add.
§ Sir A. KNOXDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think it advisable to make representations to the Soviet Ambassador on account of this paper?
§ Sir KINGSLEY WOODHaving regard to the state of affairs since the undertaking was signed, and to the issue of this paper, which is directly financed by the Soviet Government, does the right 1866 hon. Gentleman not really think that the time has come when he must intimate to the Soviet Government that he will not tolerate this state of things any longer?
§ Mr. HENDERSONI have no evidence of the accuracy of the statement made by the right hon. Gentleman.
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe are getting too many supplementary questions.
§ 5. Mr. SMITHERSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received a reply from the Soviet Ambassador to his protest against the message from the Communist International which appeared recently in an issue of an English newspaper; and, if so, will he communicate that reply to the House?
§ Mr. HENDERSONI have nothing to add to my statement of Monday last.
§ Mr. SMITHERS rose—
§ Mr. SPEAKERUnder the Rules of Procedure that govern questions, if a Minister says that it is not in the public interest to answer a question, he need not do so, and a Member has no right to press him.
§ Mr. SMITHERSMay I ask you a question, Sir? I should be the last person to ask a Minister to answer anything which would be against the public interest, but all we want is an answer "Yes" or "No."
§ Mr. SPEAKEROn Monday the same question was put, and the Minister said that he had nothing to add.
§ Mr. MARJORIBANKSMay I ask a question arising out of the matter of public interest?
§ Mr. SPEAKERMr. Smithers.
47. Mr. GODFREY LOCKER-LAMP-SONasked the Prime Minister whether he will give this House an opportunity of discussing the recent protest made by the Foreign Secretary to the Soviet Ambassador in regard to the question of propaganda?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald)If a further discussion on 1867 this subject is required, it may be debated on the Foreign Office Vote in Committee of Supply. I regret that it is impossible to provide a special day for this purpose.
§ Mr. STANLEY BALDWINWe understood from the right hon. Gentleman that during this Session opportunity would be given to debate any subject that the Opposition asked for in the usual way, deeming the matter to be of sufficient importance. We deem Russia to be of sufficient importance, and, if we ask in the usual way for a day, which we shall do, we shall expect the right hon. Gentleman to comply.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI hope there will be no misunderstanding on that point. I did not treat this as an official Opposition request. If the Opposition officially request a day, they shall have a day.
§ Mr. BALDWINI have no desire to misrepresent the right hon. Gentleman. That is one of the subjects which we shall wish to discuss, and I shall give due notice to the Government.