§ 14. Commander BELLAIRSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will cause the intelligence branch of the Foreign Office to supply him with the references made in the official organs of the Russian Soviet Government to the training of natives of Eastern races, including Indians, in revolutionary propaganda; and whether he will direct the British Ambassador in Moscow to ascertain the facts in regard to the present position?
Mr. A. HENDERSONOn two occasions I have asked the hon. and gallant Member to supply me with definite particulars. Unless I receive such particulars, I do not propose to take the action suggested.
§ Commander BELLAIRSWhy does the right hon. Gentleman ask me to supply him with particulars, when, students who have been trained at these colleges have been convicted of conspiracy in India and the magistrates have made the strongest possible comments?
Mr. HENDERSONI asked the hon. and gallant Member on two occasions, because in his question he suggested the line upon which I had not information on which to act. It is quite a common thing in this House for Members when they put questions to be asked to supply particulars.
§ Commander BELLAIRSWhen Members are asked to supply information it it with regard to personal cases, but on a general question the Government collects it.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs it not the case that the hon. and gallant Member is drawing attention to students in India, while we are dealing at the moment with Russia and not India at all?
§ Captain CROOKSHANKAm I to understand that the Foreign Secretary has no longer an Intelligence Branch at the Foreign Office?
§ Colonel ASHLEYCannot the right hon. Gentleman easily inquire from the India Office, who will supply him with the facts?
Mr. HENDERSONI still feel I am entitled to ask the hon. and gallant Member to supply me with the particulars upon which he based his question.
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe hon. and gallant Member has supplied particulars, when he states that the relevant facts are in the possession of the India Office?
16. Earl WINTERTONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Mr. Roy, a British-Indian subject who is a fugitive from justice in India, is still in Soviet Russia; whether his attention has been called to this gentleman's revolutionary activities directed against the country of his origin for years past; and whether he will request the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics to restrain Mr. Roy and other British-Indian subjects from transmitting money and literature from Russia to British-India in order to spread sedition and disaffection?
Mr. A. HENDERSONAccording to information published in Communist organs in December, 1929, Mr. Roy has been expelled both from the Comintern and from the Communist party, and I understand that he has not been resident in the Soviet Union for some considerable time. The last parts of the question do not, therefore, arise.
Earl WINTERTONWill the right, hon. Gentleman be good enough to answer the middle part of the question, whether his attention has been called to this gentleman's revolutionary activities?
§ Mr. MILLSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this gentleman has been recently appointed the Riga Correspondent of the "Daily Mail"?
Earl WINTERTONWill the right hon. Gentleman answer the middle part of the question, and can he give a denial of the question asked by the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Mills)? Will he agree with me that this man is a most dangerous revolutionary?
Mr. HENDERSONI am afraid that I do not know anything about this man. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh !," and "Why not"?] I hope hon. Members on the other side accept my statement. If the supplementary question asked by the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Mills) is accurate, that perhaps is the reason why my attention has not been called to his activities.
Earl WINTERTONWill the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to consult his colleague the Secretary of State for India, and will he be good enough in his rare leisure to read the report of the trial at Meerut, and the speech of the Public Prosecutor?