§ 37. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether negotiations have been instituted with the Russian Government for a new trade agreement; and whether conversations have already taken place?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald)I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Westhoughton (Mr. Rhys Davies) on the 14th November.
§ Mr. MANDERDo I understand that the Government are prepared at any moment to go forward with these negotiations?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs I said then, the Government are prepared at any time to go forward when they get a reply from Russia.
§ 39. Mr. SMITHERSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in concluding the proposed trade agreement with Russia, he will make it a condition that Russia will receive no more 1281 diplomatic immunity for her diplomatic and commercial agents than is afforded to any other country?
§ The PRIME MINISTERRussian diplomatic agents in Great Britain will naturally continue to receive the same diplomatic immunity as similar agents of other countries. The case of commercial agents will, of course, be dealt with in any new agreement which may be reached.
§ Mr. SMITHERSMay I ask, as it is the avowed intention of the Soviet Government to overthrow constitutional government, why that Government should have special facilities given them by the British Government to facilitate the carrying out of their purpose?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWe are dealing with a matter of commercial relations, and, as we have informed the Russian Government and this country again and again, a commercial treaty, and the action we are taking with regard to it, have nothing whatever to do with politics.