§ 50. Mr. MILLSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any officials of the Lena Goldfields Company have been acting as agents of His Majesty's Government; and, if so, in what capacity?
Mr. A. HENDERSONThere is no foundation for any suggestion which may have been made that the Lena Goldfields Company or any of its officials were in the employ of, or used for any purpose by, any Department of His Majesty's Government. I may add that no suggestion to this effect has been brought to the notice of His Majesty's Government by the Soviet Government.
§ Mr. MILLSIs the Foreign Secretary aware that these statements have received wide publicity in the Conservative Press in this country?
Earl WINTERTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Crown Prosecutor or the prosecutor for the Bolshevist Government in Russia is charging these men with being agents of the British Government, and in order to save their lives will he instruct the British Minister in Moscow to represent to the Bolshevist Government, that the statements of their prosecutor are without the slightest scintilla of foundation?
Mr. HENDERSONYes, I have seen some such statement in the Press and I will bring it to the notice of the Ambassador.
§ Major KINDERSLEYDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that the lives of these men are at stake, and, seeing that we now have the great advantage of having a representative of the Soviet Government in this country, will he take advantage of that fact and make representations through the proper channels?