§ 25. Sir KINGSLEY WOODasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has now decided to instruct His Majesty's Minister in Russia to approach the Russian Soviet Government with a view to obtaining permission for the entry into Russia of books printed and published in this country?
§ 34. Mr. MARJORIBANKSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is yet able to make a statement as to whether the importation of the Bible into Soviet Russia is permitted; and, if not, whether he can state on what grounds?
Mr. A. HENDERSONAs stated by my hon. Friend in reply to the Noble Lord, the Member for Horsham and Worthing (Earl Winterton), on the 25th of March, books to which no exception is taken on political or economic grounds are admitted into the Soviet Union free of duty. I understand that in recent years the importation of Bibles into the Soviet Union has not been permitted, this prohibition being presumably based upon the proviso already mentioned. I am advised that the imposition of such a prohibition is a matter within the domestic jurisdiction of the Soviet Government, and, however much I may regret their attitude, the matter is not, in my opinion, one in which representations by His Majesty's Government would be calculated to secure the objects which the hon. Members have in view.
§ Sir K. WOODSurely the right hon. Gentleman will at any rate make some effort; surely he can have no objection to making some representations in the matter?
Mr. HENDERSONI am afraid that I am not in a position to add anything to the answer that I have given. This matter, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, has been going on for years.