HC Deb 15 March 1933 vol 275 cc1944-6
3. Mr. POTTER

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can now make a statement regarding the recent arrest and detention of four British subjects by the Moscow secret police?

4. Sir NICHOLAS GRATTAN-DOYLE

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can now give further information concerning the raid on the offices of the Metropolitan-Vickers Company, Limited, in Moscow, and of the arrest of prominent officials of that company?

Mr. BALDWIN

Yes, Sir. The information which I have received from His Majesty's Ambassador at Moscow confirms the Press reports to the effect that the following British subjects, Messrs. Monkhouse, Thornton, Cushny, MacDonald, Gregory and Nordwall, employed by the Metropolitan Vickers Company, together with more than 20 Soviet citizens employed by the same firm, have been arrested by the Soviet political police on a charge of sabotage of electrical machinery. Messrs. Monkhouse and Nordwall have since been provisionally released on an undertaking not to leave Moscow. The other persons arrested are still in custody and His Majesty's Ambassador has visited them in prison. Their health appears to be generally satisfactory and permission to exercise has been promised.

Immediately on receipt of news of the arrests His Majesty's Ambassador at Moscow made urgent representations to the Commissariat for Foreign Affairs, requiring to know, among other points, exactly on what charge the arrests had been made, and what facilities for their defence would be granted them. As he has received no categorical or satisfactory answer on these matters, he has been instructed to press for the fullest possible information from the Commissar for Foreign Affairs, Monsieur Litvinoff.

Moreover, as His Majesty's Government are convinced that there can be no justification for the charge on which the arrests were made, Sir Esmond Ovey has been instructed to represent in strong terms the grave view which they take of these proceedings against British subjects of high standing engaged in normal commercial pursuits to the benefit of both countries, and the unfortunate consequences to Anglo-Soviet relations which may follow unless it is rectified; and similar language will be held to the Soviet Ambassador in London to-morrow, as His Excellency has been unable to come to the Foreign Office to-day.

Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLE

May I ask my right hon. Friend, first, whether he has any information with regard to the raids on the company's offices that took place at Leningrad; and, secondly, whether the Government will not at once press for the release of the other British subjects who are in custody, and press for full satisfaction with reference to this outrage?

Mr. BALDWIN

With regard to the first question, if my hon. Friend will put any question on the Paper, I will give him all the information as it comes to hand. The information is rather slow in coming through. With regard to the second question, I would only add that we do regard it as a very grave matter, and we shall take all steps possible.

Sir WILLIAM DAVISON

Do the Government not now realise the futility of the policy that they have hitherto adopted, of allowing British subjects—

HON. MEMBERS

Order, order!

Mr. THORNE

You remember how you "pinched" Tom Mann.