§ 18. Captain CROOKSHANKasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any Report from His Majesty's Ambassador in Moscow regarding any abatement of religious persecution in Russia following upon the recent decree?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. A. Henderson)I have nothing to add to the reply which I returned (Mr. Albery) on the 17th of March.
§ Captain CROOKSHANKBut this question does not deal with the original persecution, but with the original persecution, but with the abatement, and has the right hon. Gentleman had no information about that?
§ Mr. HENDERSONI have nothing to add to the answer that I have given.
§ 19. Mr. ALBERYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the British Ambassador has as yet replied to his inquiry concerning the English Church in Moscow?
§ Mr. HENDERSONYes, Sir. I under stand that while the church itself is unused, the property of which it forms part is at present occupied by the Finnish Legation. The use of this church by the British community hardly arises as a practical qustion. The possible congregation is extremely small and not in a position to undertake the expenditure for upkeep, heating, etc., which would be necessary. Moreover, their spiritual needs are at present being met by the services held in the Embassy building.
§ Mr. ALBERYMy question was whether this church was available as and when required?
§ Mr. HENDERSONThe church is not required for the reasons I have already 13 given, and the church is unused at the moment, as I have reported to the House on more than one occasion.
§ Sir AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe right hon. Gentleman spoke a moment ago about the service being held in the Embassy building. Is there by this time an Embassy building, or does he mean the hotel in which the Embassy was at first quartered?
§ Mr. HENDERSONThere is a house that has been used, though part of the staff of the Embassy are located at an hotel.
§ Mr. MARJORIBANKSDoes the doctrine of extra-territoriality apply in Russia?
§ 21. Mr. ALBERYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs with reference to the recent announcement made by the Central Committee of the Communist party in Russia containing instructions to local party organisation concerning churches, whether this announcement was reported to him from an official source; and if His Majesty's Government regards the central committee ot the communist party in Russia as being representative of the Russian Government?
§ Mr. HENDERSONI think it may be assumed that, in making an announcement of this kind, the Executive Committee of the Communist party represents the views of the Soviet Government.
§ Mr. ALBERYWill the right hon. Gentleman answer the second part of the question as to whether His Majesty's Government regard the Central Committee of the Communist party in Russia as being representative of the Russian Government?
§ Mr. HENDERSONI have nothing to add to the answer that I have given.
§ Captain CROOKSHANKMay we have an answer to the first part of the question. [Interruption.]
25. Lieut.-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any discussions took place between himself, or anyone on his behalf, and any Soviet representative in this country on the subject of the publication or non-publication of the report which has been received from the 14 British ambassador at Moscow, with regard to the religious persecution that is going on in Russia, before the decision of the Government not to issue the report to Members of the House was arrived at?
§ Mr. HENDERSONNo discussion of any nature whatever took place
Sir F. HALLIs it the right hon. Gentleman's decision, and his decision alone, that we are not going to have any Papers in regard to what has taken place on any communications from the Russian ambassador?
§ Mr. HENDERSONThe decision which I gave to the House was the decision of His Majesty's Government.
§ 26. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has ascertained from the British Ambassador at Moscow as to whether religious education, or religious instruction, or Bible readings of any kind may be given to children or young people in public or private schools or at meetings or circles for Biblical or religious instruction within Soviet Russia?
§ Mr. HENDERSONNo, Sir. The points raised in the hon. Member's question appear to be covered by Articles 3, 17 and 18 of the Decree of the 8th of April, 1929, which has been issued as a Command Paper.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs it not a fact that the articles to which the right hon. Gentleman has referred me expressly forbid the giving of any religious instruction to children, and is not that in itself evidence of religious persecution?
§ Mr. OLDFIELDIs the right hon. Gentleman aware—[Interruption.]
§ Sir W. DAVISONrose—
§ Mr. SPEAKERDoes the hon. Member rise to a point of Order?
§ Sir W. DAVISONYes. The Foreign Secretary referred me to certain articles. Is it not a fact that those particular articles forbid all organised religious instruction being given to children, and is that not evidence of religious persecution?
§ Mr. HENDERSONThe hon. Member is capable of interpreting those articles for himself.
§ Mr. THURTLEOn a further point of Order, may I submit to you, Mr. Speaker, that, as the matter of religious education in Russia is one of the internal affairs of Russia, it ought not to be the subject of questions in this House?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI should not like to decide that matter off-hand.