HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMITTEE ROOMS (STRANGERS' ADDRESSES).

HC Deb 15 June 1931 vol 253 cc1432-3

49. Sir AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the address recently given by a member of a foreign Embassy in a Committee room of the House, he will bring to the notice of the Soviet Embassy the un-desirability of such a practice?

52. Mr. MACLEAN

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the address recently given by a member of a foreign Legation in a Committee room of the House, he will bring to the notice of the Finnish. Legation the undesirability of such a practice?

The PRIME MINISTER

The answer to both questions is in the negative. They raise a matter of some delicacy, and I suggest that Members in all parts of the House might consider whether, in using the Committee Rooms of the House for addresses by members of the Diplomatic Corps upon controversial questions, they are really furthering the objects which they have in view, or whether they are not adopting a practice open to grave objection.

Sir A. CHAMBERLAIN

I am obliged to the right hon. Gentleman. Is it not contrary to diplomatic usage that members of a foreign Embassy or Legation should give public addresses on controversial subjects; has not the interference of diplomats in the internal affairs of other countries led to those diplomats being handed their passports; and does not the right hon. Gentleman think that members of Embassies and Legations should refrain in future from delivering addresses of that character?

The PRIME MINISTER

I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman, who has had very great experience of diplomatic statements, will recognise that that is the character and nature of the statement which I have made, and I hope its complete significance will not be lost.

Mr. MILLS

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Minister for Finland recently, on the invitation of Conservative Members, explained the operation of——

HON. MEMBERS

Order!

Mr. MACLEAN

Will my right hon. Friend now circulate to all parties in the House, particularly the party which originally raised this question and which originally sinned in the matter, a copy of his answer?

Mr. SPEAKER

The answer given seems to cover all these points.