§ 29. Sir NICHOLAS GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign 18 Affairs whether he can give any information concerning the raid upon the premises of the Metropolitan-Vickers Company at Leningrad; and whether he can give further information in reference to the raids in Moscow and the arrest and imprisonment of British subjects there?
§ 33. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British Ambassador at Moscow has now obtained particulars of the specific charges made against the British subjects who have been arrested by the order of the Russian Soviet Government; whether he has been given an opportunity of a private interview with the prisoners; whether the prisoners will be allowed legal assistance in the preparation of their defence; and before what court they will be tried?
§ 36. Sir A. KNOXasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps have been taken to secure the release of the British subjects arrested in Moscow?
§ 37. Mr. SMITHERSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the latest position in regard to the imprisonment of British subjects in Russia?
§ Mr. EDENAs regards the first part of the question of the hon. Member for North Newcastle-on-Tyne (Sir N. Grattan-Doyle), the firm's premises at Leningrad were entered on the night of the 11th of March by Soviet authorities, who carried off a few papers, mostly personal letters. The British manager was not placed under arrest, nor, apparently, were any of the Russian staff. As regards the latter part of the question, I regret to state that, apart from Messrs. Monkhouse and Nord-wall, whose provisional release was announced to the House on the 15th March, the British subjects arrested are still in custody, and, as far as I am aware, His Majesty's Ambassador has not yet been given an opportunity for a private interview with them.
His Excellency has been informed that the prisoners are charged under Article 58 of the Criminal Code, and in an official communique published on the 17th of March, the substance of which has already appeared in the Press, it is stated that the case will be dealt with by the Supreme Court, apparently in public. Full details of the charge on which the case is based have not yet been received, in spite of Sir Esmond Ovey's urgent 19 inquiries; but, as my right hon. Friend stated on the 15th of March, it has been described as one of sabotage in the electrical industry.
With regard to the legal steps for the defence of the prisoners, the Soviet Government have stated that the prisoners will not be allowed to avail themselves of the services of British counsel, nor will such counsel be allowed to be present in court during the trial, the only counsel allowed in such cases being nominated from the Soviet College of Jurisconsults. Sir Esmond Ovey has been instructed to press for untrammelled legal assistance for the prisoners, if a trial is held.
As my right hon. Friend informed the House on the 15th of March, Sir Esmond Ovey was instructed to represent in the strongest terms to the Commissar for Foreign Affairs the grave view taken by His Majesty's Government of these unjustifiable proceedings against British subjects. His Majesty's Government are conviticed that these proceedings must have been taken under a complete misapprehension. His Excellency has now reported that he has made urgent representations on behalf of the prisoners emphasising that Anglo-Soviet relations will suffer seriously unless they are liberated.
It is moreover clear that negotiations for a commercial treaty can serve no useful purpose, if British subjects are to be liable to such treatment. His Majesty's Government have accordingly decided to suspend these negotiations.
His Majesty's Ambassador at Moscow has been instructed to inform the Soviet Government accordingly.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEMay I ask my hon. Friend whether he is aware of the intense indignation among every section in this country with regard to the treatment of British subjects in Moscow; also, whether more drastic measures cannot be taken to rescue them from an intolerable situation; and what the British Government are going to do to rescue themselves from their present humiliating position?
§ Mr. EDENI think my answer shows the very grave view His Majesty's Government take of the matter, and I 20 think we should await the result of the representations to which I have referred.
§ Mr. LANSBURYMay I ask whether Sir Esmond Ovey has given any evidence to justify the statement which the hon. Gentleman has made, that there are no charges against these men; and will the hon. Gentleman also state Whether, if Russians are arrested in this country and put on trial, Russian counsel—The right hon. Member for Epping—[HON.MEMBERS: "Get on!"] Mr. Speaker, I think that when one is putting a question on an important subject—[Hoy;. MEMBERS: "Speech!"] I am going to ask a question, and I am going to ask it in my own way, and I think that the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Epping (Mr. Churchill) has no right to make insulting remarks.
§ Mr. CHURCHILL rose—
§ Mr. LANSBURYThe point I was putting, Mr. Speaker—-[HON. MEMBERS: "Point of Order!"] I wish to ask the hon. Gentleman whether in the event of Russian subjects or any other foreign nationals being put on trial in this country foreign counsel would be allowed to appear in the case?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLMay I say, as the right hon. Gentleman has drawn me into this, that I did not make any insulting remark at all. It is his own guilty conscience that has prompted him to think so.
§ Sir W. DAVISONMay I ask what reply was given to Sir Esmond Ovey when he asked for an opportunity of seeing his own nationals to ascertain what were the charges which were made against them?
§ Mr. EDENIn reply to the hon. Gentleman, I must restate that the full details of the charge on which the case is based have never been given to His Majesty's Government, in spite of our repeated requests, and the representations we have been compelled to make.
§ Mr. LANSBURYIn view of that statement, may I ask whether it is possible for anybody to judge whether the accusations are true or false? May I also ask whether it is a fact, as stated in the Press to-day, that the British Consul and 21 one of his assistants have visited the prisoners and found them in good health and under good conditions?
§ Sir W. DAVISONAre the Government satisfied that Third Degree methods will not be used against our nationals to secure a confession, as we know was done in a previous case?
§ Mr. MAXTONWill the Minister tell the House and the country in what way this happening in Russia is a departure from the ordinary practice of international law?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLHas the Under-Secretary any information that Third Degree methods have been used upon these prisoners?
§ Mr. LANSBURYMay I ask the hon. Gentleman whether either of the gentlemen who were released have complained of Third Degree methods?