§ Sir WILLIAM DAVISON(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now in a position to inform the House as to the conclusions arrived at by the special committee set up to inquire into the campaign of propaganda instituted by the Third International in Great Britain, India, Egypt and the British Empire, and what action the Government is taking in the matter?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Arthur Henderson)As a result of the inquiry to which the hon. Member refers, I have seen the Soviet Ambassador and represented to him that his Government had not been observing the pledge against propaganda which we exchanged last year. I asked the Ambassador to impress seriously on his Government that a continuation of this propaganda would be calculated to endanger the relations between the two countries. The Ambassador assured me in reply that his Government have done and will continue to do all in their power to observe the pledge regarding propaganda. He added, however, that his Government could not control the activities of the Third International.
§ Sir W. DAVISONDid the Foreign Secretary draw the attention of the Ambassador to the memorandum which the Prime Minister sent some time ago pointing out that the activities of the Third International could not be distinguished from the activities of the Soviet Government?
§ Sir AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINI hope that the right hon. Gentleman will be good enough to give an answer to that question. The declaration of the Prime Minister, repeated by the right hon. Gentleman himself, was explicit that the ban forbidding propaganda applied, and the Government intended to insist that it should be applied, to the Third International.
§ Mr. HENDERSONIn the interview that took place I very fully stated the interpretation which this Government placed upon the question of propaganda, and the obligation which we thought that his Government entered into when they signed the propaganda undertaking on the 3rd October.
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINIs not the reply of the Soviet Ambassador a repudiation of that interpretation; and, if that be so, what further action do His Majesty's Government propose to take?
§ Mr. HENDERSONIt is quite clear that there are two interpretations. I placed my interpretation, and I have given the House what he said was his interpretation. That is as far as I am in a position to take the matter.
§ Sir ASSHETON POWNALLIs the machinery set up to deal with this question being kept in existence in future or not?
§ Mr. HENDERSONThe machinery was set up for the special purpose of inquiring into certain cases, and that machinery can be called into operation if similar cases arise in the future.
§ Sir A. POWNALLWill any report arising from the existence of this machinery be published, that Members can see?
§ Mr. HENDERSONNo; that was a report to the Cabinet.
§ Mr. MARJORIBANKSIs there any danger of breaking off relations?
§ Mr. HAYCOCKMay I ask if, in that interview, the Soviet Ambassador complained about propaganda activities in this country on the part of the "Daily Express," the "Daily Mail," and the Conservative party in general?