§ 21. Sir ASSHETON POWNALLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the meeting held last month in Moscow of the Præsidium of the Komintern, at which the British representative was instructed to see that the Communist party in Great Britain strengthened its membership; and whether he will make this matter a subject of protest to the Soviet Government?
Mr. A. HENDERSONI have nothing to add to the answer given to a number of questions on this subject on Monday last, and the explanation which I gave on that occasion of the attitude of His Majesty's Government holds good for these instructions also.
§ Sir A. POWNALLDoes the right hon. Gentleman adhere to the position which he originally took up last autumn, that the Soviet is responsible for the activities of the Komintem?
§ Mr. SMITHERSWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether or not, if the 1688 statement in the question is true, it is not indeed a breach of the Protocol of October, 1929?
§ 30. Mr. ALBERYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, as a result of more recent experience, he is now satisfied that the Soviet Ambassador and Soviet Government put the same interpretation as His Majesty's Government on the mutual agreement concerning propaganda; and if there has been, as a result, any definite improvement in this respect?
Mr. HENDERSONHis Majesty s Government have, at various times during the past three months, endeavoured to make plain both in this House and elsewhere their position in regard to the guarantee respecting propaganda, and I have nothing to add to the answers already given on this subject.
§ Mr. ALBERYDoes the right hon. Gentleman remember saying in reply to a similar question that he had had cause of complaint; and are we to understand that he has had further cause of complaint?
Mr. HENDERSONNo, the hon. Member must not understand anything of the kind unless it is stated from this Bench.
§ 32. Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has discussed with the Soviet Ambassador breaches of the Protocol with reference to propaganda; and, if so, whether he can state the nature of such conversations?
Mr. HENDERSONNo, Sir. Except for the case which I mentioned to the Soviet Ambassador, as I informed the House on the 22nd of January, no such discussions have taken place. The second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.
§ Mr. THORNEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that right hon. Gentlemen on the other side are arranging that something about Russia is to be brought in every day?