3. Sir WILLIAM MITCHELL-THOMSONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now in a position to make any statement as to the reply received from the Soviet Government to his recent note; and when the note and reply will be published?
§ Mr. DALTONThe telegraphic reply of the Soviet Government to the invitation recently extended to them was received m the Foreign Office in the afternoon of Wednesday, the 24th of July, and runs as follows:
The Government of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics note the communication from the British Government that they are willing to re-establish diplomatic relations with Union of Socialist Soviet Republics the interruption of which was not the consequence of fault or desire of Government of the Union. The Government of the Union welcome this proposal in the interest of both countries and of the cause of peace. The Government of the Union consider it necessary that there shall be established as soon as possible a lasting agreement regarding disputed questions, and believe that such a lasting agreement can only be attained through both parties being treated as having equal rights and by the maintenance of reciprocal dignity and esteem.The Government will assume the rights and duties of States in diplomatic relations between themselves as soon as the British Government takes upon itself these rights and duties.1563In view of the fact that the note from the British Government aims at a preliminary exchange of views exclusively regarding the procedure to be followed in subsequent discussion of disputed questions and not at an actual discussion of these questions, and being of the opinion that these deliberations regarding procedure can be concluded in the course of a very short period, the Government are requesting M. Dovgalevski, plenipotentiary representative of the Union in France, to journey to London for this purpose.In answer to this communication the Secretary of State has invited M. Dovgalevski to come to London, and proposes to have a conversation with him on Monday next, the 29th July.
§ Sir WILLIAM DAVISONDoes that mean that the Soviet Government have indicated that they insist on diplomatic relations being resumed before they make any agreement as to the redress of grievances of which this country has repeatedly complained?
§ Mr. DALTONWe cannot discuss these matters until M. Dovgalevski meets my right hon. Friend.
Sir BASIL PETOCan the hon. Gentleman say whether the earlier part of the reply makes the admission that the British Government is of opinion that nothing was done by the Soviet Government which was the cause or the reason for the breaking off of relations?
§ Mr. DALTONNo, Sir.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member has already answered that point.
§ At end of Questions—
Sir B. PETOOn a point of Order. As a question of Privilege, are we not entitled to have printed in full documents which were referred to by the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs as having passed between His Majesty's Government and the Soviet Government of Russia?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not seem to be a point of Order, but a matter for the Government.
Sir B. PETOIt is a question of the Privileges of this House, and are we not entitled to have these documents?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI have no idea what documents they are.
§ Mr. HARRISWhen a Minister refers to documents specifically, are we not entitled to have them laid on the Table of the House?
§ Mr. SPEAKERNaturally, if a Minister refers to certain documents in a statement that he makes in this House, he has to present them, if they are asked for, but I do not know that there was any specific document referred to in the statement made by the Minister.
Sir B. PETOMay I call your attention to the fact, Mr. Speaker, that the Minister quoted from these documents? I would like formally to ask that they should be printed and laid on the Table of the House.
§ Mr. SPEAKERIf the Minister quoted certain documents, of course he must lay them before the House.
§ Mr. DALTONFor elucidation, may I say that I read fully the telegraphic reply of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, which can be read in full in the OFFICIAL REPORT, and that I added that a reply had been sent to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics inviting M. Dovgalevski to come here on Monday? That was the content of my answer.
Sir B. PETOThe hon. Gentleman said he quoted in full the answer to His Majesty's Government's communication. The communication itself, however, was not read in full, and it is the communication itself which is very doubtful.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI think, under the circumstances, the Minister, having quoted these documents, should lay them before the House.
Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYOn a point of Order. Do I understand you to say, Mr. Speaker, that the Note is to be laid at this stage? May I not point out that I understand an agreement has been come to to publish the documents, and, furthermore, that the Minister did not quote from the Note sent on behalf of His Majesty's Government, but only the reply, which has been read out in full and will appear in the OFFICIAL REPORT? Under these circumstances, may I put it to you that the hon. Member for Barnstaple (Sir B. Peto) is suffering under a misapprehension?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe only point that affects me, as regards the point of Order, is that documents which the Minister has quoted should be laid.
§ Mr. MACLEANI take it that the document referred to by the hon. Member opposite will not have to be submitted to this House since it was not quoted?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI have nothing to add to my ruling that a document that has been quoted must be laid.