§ 13. Sir KINGSLEY WOODasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state the subjects he has at present discussed with the Soviet Ambassador.
Mr. A. HENDERSONYes, Sir. In accordance with the Protocol of the 3rd October, I communicated to the Soviet Ambassador on the 6th January a statement defining the attitude of His Majesty's Government towards the General Treaty and the Commercial Treaty signed on the 8th August, 1924. This statement included the preliminary proposals of His Majesty's Government as to the method of dealing with all the subjects mentioned in the Protocol, with the exception of propaganda, which is governed by the notes exchanged on the 20th December last. The reply of the Soviet Government was received on the 25th January and is now under examination.
§ Sir K. WOODIn the course of the right hon. Gentleman's discussions with the Ambassador, has he raised the question of religious persecution in Russia?
Mr. HENDERSONIf the right hon. Gentleman means raised it in general, I have called his attention to one or two cases.
§ Mr. THURTLECan the Foreign Secretary say whether the Russian Government have drawn his attention to the fact that the Sermon on the Mount is frequently being violated in this country?