§ 23. Major GLYNasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many British subjects there are now in Russia; whether any of them have made application for passports in order to leave Russia; and whether the attention of the Foreign Office has been drawn to certain cases where the Soviet Government have refused permission to British subjects to leave Russia?
Mr. A. HENDERSONIn 1927 there were some 340 registered British subjects in Moscow and the provinces. No later figures are available. His Majesty's Ambassador at Moscow has been approached by some 12 persons for assistance to leave Soviet territory. Four of these cases are now under discussion with the Commissariat for Foreign Affairs. The remaining eight applicants possess both Soviet and British nationality and thus, in accordance with the accepted principles of International Law, are not entitled to British protection in Soviet Russia.
§ Major GLYNWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the position of the children of British subjects born in Russia who object to remaining there under present conditions and who, as British subjects, appeal to this Government to assist them to leave the country?
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that since 1926 I have been pressing him to get out of Russia, a British subject who is kept back by the Soviet and prevented from joining her step-father in England?
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYI have been pressing the right hon. Gentleman ever since he has been in office.
§ Lord EUSTACE PERCYIs the right hon. Gentleman correct in saying that, according to usage, whatever may be the nationality law of a foreign country, the British Government does not protect British subjects who happen to have also under those laws a foreign nationality?