HC Deb 01 May 1930 vol 238 cc348-50
21. Mr. SMITHERS

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can now give the House the result of his inquiries as to whether any of the discharged employés of Arcos, Limited, being Russian subjects, are still upon the British labour market?

28. Mr. DOUGLAS HACKING

asked the Home Secretary whether he is yet in a position to make any statement regarding the Russian nationals now in this country who may only return to their own country under penalty of death?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Clynes)

I find that, with one possible exception, none of the Soviet citizens, some 11 in number, dismissed by Soviet organisations in this country since the beginning of 1929 are on the British labour market. The majority are in business on their own account. My inquiries are almost complete and so far I have not found a case in which there appeared to me to be grounds for considering the question of requiring the alien concerned to leave the country. Apart from the particular cases the question has of course an important international aspect which requires, and will receive, further consideration.

Mr. SMITHERS

May I ask what guarantee the right hon. Gentleman has that these people are not still carrying on revolutionary propaganda in this country?

Mr. CLYNES

I have the guarantee that they are engaged in ordinary business, and, so far as I know, no further inquiry is necessary.

Mr. SMITHERS

When these gentlemen were engaged in the business of Arcos they did, as was proved—[HON. MEMBERS: "No!"]—carry on revolutionary propaganda.

31. Sir K. WOOD

asked the Home Secretary whether he can state the names of certain nationals of Soviet Russia who recently applied for visas for this country and who represented that they were members of a Soviet football team and desirous of carrying out certain fixtures arranged by the Communist party; and what action he has taken in the matter?

Mr. CLYNES

No, Sir I have not been furnished with the names of the persons concerned. An application for visas was made to me by the British Workers' Sports Federation for the members of a football team to visit this country from 18th April to about 10th May. I understand that the Federation is affiliated to the Sportintern, a subsidiary organisation of the Communist International. The objects of these Communist sports organisations are sufficiently shown by a resolution of the Young Communist International of December last which was published in the "International Press Correspondence" of the 21st March. The resolution was in the following terms: The Young Communist League organisations must pay particular attention to the sport unions of the working class youth. In these unions they must crystallise the basic kernel for strike pickets, proletarian self-defence, workers' fighting committees and Red Guards, people for work in the imperialist armies. They should utilise sport organisations for the military training of the working class youth. In the absence of any evidence that the object of the proposed tour was for the purpose of genuine sport, I could not see my way to accede to the application.

Sir K. WOOD

Is the right hon. Gentleman communicating this matter to the Foreign Secretary?

Mr. CLYNES

The Foreign Office is well aware of the facts in my reply.

Mr. W. J. BROWN

Is the Home Secretary aware that matches have been arranged with members of this football team and have taken place in Germany, Scandinavia, Turkey and other countries without a revolution being brought a day nearer?

Mr. CLYNES

At present my job is limited to this country.

Mr. ERNEST BROWN

Does this team wear red jerseys, like Woolwich Arsenal?