§ 30. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the special committee dealing with Soviet propaganda have now considered the Report of the Sixth Congress of the Communist International, which was recently published by the Soviet State publishing department in Moscow, giving particulars of the active part taken by agents of the Third International in fomenting unrest in India and elsewhere; and what action has been taken with regard to this official document?
32. Lieut.-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the proceedings at the recent conference of the Communist party of the Moscow district and the central provinces; whether he is aware 791 that M. Kalinin, the president of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, was present at the conference and urged the delegates to further the efforts in support of the class-war movement now being carried on in India, in which the Communist organisation known as the Red Shirts were the chief agents; whether he has referred this matter to the special committee dealing with Soviet propaganda; and whether any action is contemplated in consequence?
Mr. A. HENDERSONThe alleged activities of the Comintern in India formed the subject of debates on 2nd June and 6th June, and I have at present nothing to add to the statements made on these occasions.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that thousands of copies of this official document have been issued for many weeks, which is a direct breach of the pledge given by the Soviet Ambassador? Surely we ought to have some reason why no action has been taken.
Sir F. HALLDoes the right hon. Gentleman think the attitude that has been adopted by the President of the Soviet is in agreement with arrangements which have been made by the Socialist Government with Russia?
Mr. HENDERSONThese matters were the subject of a debate and official answers were given; I have nothing to add.
Sir F. HALLTaking all matters into consideration, and the strong language used by the President of the Soviet, will the right hon. Gentleman undertake to make formal representations to the Soviet Government on the subject?
Mr. HENDERSONI have already announced that the Government have set up appropriate machinery for dealing with the matter.
Sir F. HALLIn consequence of the unsatisfactory reply, I will raise the matter at the earliest opportunity on the Adjournment.
§ 31. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action has been taken as a result of the special machinery recently set up with re- 792 gard to the subsidisation by the Third International of the Daily Worker newspaper?
§ 33. Sir K. WOODasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether as a result of the inquiries of the special committee, he has discussed with the Soviet Ambassador the question of any variation in the terms of the Treaty with Soviet Russia, particularly as regards propaganda; and if he can make any statement as to the position and intentions of the Government in relation to this aspect of the treaty?
Mr. A. HENDERSONI have nothing to acid to the statement made in the debate on the Adjournment on 6th June.
§ Sir W. DAVISONAs a result of his inquiries, can the right hon. Gentleman deny that this paper is subsidised directly by the Soviet Government?
Earl WINTERTONIn view of the fact that, on the occasion to which the right hon. Gentleman has referred constantly in his supplementary answers, he said he would make a definite statement at as early a date as possible, can he give us any indication when he will be in a position to make that statement?
§ Major the Marquess of TITCHFIELDHow much longer is the right hon. Gentleman going to cringe and fawn before the Bolshevists?