§ 8. Sir KINGSLEY WOODasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to a recent issue of "Pravda," an official Soviet organ, containing the statement that amongst the recent successes of the Soviet Government has been a peasant poll-tax revolt in Nigeria., native demonstrations in the Sudan, railway strikes in the Transvaal, peasant disorders in Kenya, and two risings in Samoa; and whether he is taking action having regard to the terms of the Treaty with Soviet Russia?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Arthur Henderson)The right hon. Gentleman appears to have misunderstood or mistranslated the article referred to in the question. This article, which appeared on the 7th of November, mentioned the various events referred to by the right hon. Gentleman as items of news. The article, however, so far as we are able to discover, contained no reference whatever either to the Soviet Government or to its recent successes.
§ Sir K. WOODDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think this is a very unfriendly way of treating a country with which they are in Treaty relations, and is it not subjecting this country to still another humiliation?
§ Mr. A. M. SAMUELIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the United States Government have this morning announced that they are going to take the very steps which we are urging him to take?
§ 17. Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any complaints 873 that British anti-Bolshevist propaganda is being carried on in the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics; and whether any such propaganda is, to his knowledge, being carried on?
§ Mr. A. HENDERSONNo complaints of the nature suggested by the hon. Member have been received.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEWill the right hon. Gentleman devote his attention to the allegations which have appeared in the Soviet Press that this Government is carrying on propaganda in that country?
§ Mr. HENDERSONI am afraid I have something else to do than be running after such statements.
§ Mr. SMITHERSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the bulk of the Press in Russia is official, and that it is his duty to look after it?
§ Mr. MARJORIBANKSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these accusations were made against the Lena Goldfields Company and that that was the ground for turning them out of Russia?
§ Rear-Admiral BEAMISHHas the right hon. Gentleman knowledge that propaganda of this kind is being carried on?
§ Mr. HENDERSONI can add nothing to what I have already said, in view of questions already on the Order paper.