§ 8. Major Beamishasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent British Broadcasting Corporation broadcasts 1762 to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Russian-dominated countries in Europe have been jammed during the visit of Marshal Bulganin and Mr. Khrushchev to this country; the main object of these broadcasts; and what explanation the Russian Government have given of the reasons for interfering with these British broadcasts.
§ 12. Mr. E. Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will represent to the Soviet Government the surprise and regret felt in this country that the British Broadcasting Corporation's broadcasts to Moscow about the Soviet leaders' visit have been jammed.
§ Mr. NuttingThe object of these broadcasts is to supply to the peoples of the Soviet bloc truthful news and comment. Since 18th April jamming within the Soviet Union of B.B.C. Russian broadcasts has lessened, but there has been no complete cessation. Soviet jamming of B.B.C. broadcasts in other languages continues. In the satellites there has been no change.
§ Major BeamishIs my right hon. Friend aware that the protestations of the Soviet leaders that they wish to have very many more contacts between our people and the people of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union itself are impossible to reconcile with jamming?
§ Mr. NuttingYes, Sir, and that point has been mentioned to the Russians on numerous occasions.
§ Mr. E. FletcherHas the Prime Minister inquired whether Marshal Bulganin and Mr. Khrushchev have any objection to the Soviet people receiving a truthful and objective account from British sources?
§ Mr. NuttingThe talks with Marshal Bulganin and Mr. Khrushchev are still proceeding, and I should prefer to say nothing about them at the moment. Therefore, I will leave it to the hon. Gentleman's imagination.
§ Mr. RobensHas not our case for protesting about jamming gone by the board since we jammed Athens Radio?
§ Mr. NuttingBy no means, and the right hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well that he is not comparing like with like. There is no comparison whatsoever, 1763 and the right hon. Gentleman knows it perfectly well, between what the B.B.C. is saying to the Soviet Union and the satellites and what Athens Radio is doing by way of incitement to murder in Cyprus. The right hon. Gentleman ought not to cast these aspersions on the British Broadcasting Corporation.
§ 9. Major Beamishasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that nearly 80 daily and periodical English language publications controlled or influenced by the Russian Government, the Governments of Russian-dominated countries in Europe, the Cominform and the British Communist Party have been in regular circulation in this country; what foreign language publications with what circulation are produced under the control or influence of the British Government for the benefit of the Russian people or the people of the Russian - dominated countries in Europe; and whether he is satisfied with this situation.
§ Mr. NuttingThe Answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir", to the second "None, Sir", and to the third "No, Sir".
§ Major BeamishWithout being able fully to comprehend that reply, without studying it more carefully, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether the Soviet leaders are fully aware of the gross inequality of the present position?
§ Mr. NuttingThe answer to that supplementary question is, "Yes, Sir".
§ 21. Major Beamishasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in which of the following countries, namely, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Roumania, Czechoslovakia, Albania, and Eastern Germany, the British Council has ever operated; in which it now operates; why reductions have had to be made; and what plans he has for an expansion of the Council's activities in these countries, particularly in view of the widespread and unhindered activities influenced or directed in the United Kingdom by the Soviet Government and the Soviet-dominated countries in Europe.
§ Mr. NuttingThe British Council has operated in the U.S.S.R., Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and 1764 Roumania. It still operates in Poland. It ceased to operate in the U.S.S.R. in 1946, when the British Council officer seconded to Her Majesty's Embassy in Moscow was refused a re-entry visa. In 1948, the attempt to re-establish the Council's Office in Roumania was abandoned, owing to local obstacles. In July, 1949, the Bulgarian Government expelled the British Council. In March and June, 1950, the Hungarian and Czechoslovak Governments respectively followed suit.
Last year the British Council, at the request of Her Majesty's Government, set up a Soviet Relations Committee to further professional, cultural and other reciprocal exchanges with the Soviet Union.
§ Major BeamishWould not my right hon. Friend agree that if the Soviet and satellite Governments allowed the British Council complete freedom to operate again it would be a valuable step towards establishing more friendly relations?
§ Mr. NuttingYes, Sir.