HC Deb 03 July 1932 vol 156 cc17-8
25. Mr. HOGGE

asked the Prime Minister whether he has now ascertained whether the formations massing on the Russian frontier have been in any way reduced as a result of the truce of peace agreed upon at Genoa?

The PRIME MINISTER

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member on the 26th June. There has been no further information except that the movement of troops towards the frontiers which was taking place before the Genoa Conference and during the earlier part of the Conference has been arrested.

Mr. HOGGE

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that steps should be taken to get that information? In the debate about a month ago we got information about the situation. How is it, after his statement of a month ago, that it has taken a month to find out whether these formations have been reduced?

The PRIME MINISTER

The information I then used was that troops were massing towards the frontier before the Genoa Conference. That was correct. The hon. Gentleman asks me now what has happened since. There is no information of what has happened since, except that the movement has been arrested.

Mr. HOGGE

How is it that the Prime Minister should know so accurately before that debate that these troops were massing, and yet cannot take the trouble inside a month to find out what reductions have taken place?

The PRIME MINISTER

I have given to the House the information I have. The information was from the Rumanian Prime Minister and from the Polish Foreign Secretary. That is good enough information for us to act upon. The information I have had since has come from the same quarters, and it is that that movement has been arrested.

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