§ 1. Captain PETER MACDONALDasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the House information concerning the proposals of the Government of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics to create a force of military reservists, stating the numbers proposed to be so raised?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Dalton)My right hon. Friend has requested His Majesty's Ambassador at Moscow to inquire into the truth of certain Press reports which have recently appeared on this subject.
§ Captain MACDONALDWould it not have been better if the Government had followed the usual procedure and appointed an attaché at Moscow to inform us?
§ Mr. DALTONNo, Sir, my right hon. Friend has several times stated that we hold the contrary opinion.
§ Mr. SMITHERSWill the hon. Gentleman communicate the result to the House when he receives it?
§ Mr. DALTONPerhaps the hon. Member will put down a question a little later.
§ Captain CAZALETIs there a Naval or Air Force attaché at Moscow?
§ Mr. DALTONNo, Sir.