U.S.S.R. (RUSSIAN-LANGUAGE PERIODICAL)

HC Deb 16 May 1960 vol 623 cc908-9

26. Mr. Mayhew

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has yet reached agreement with the Soviet authorities on arrangements for distributing a Russian-language periodical in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Mr. R. Allan

Not yet; but I am hopeful that an agreement will be signed soon.

Mr. Mayhew

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the publication of a friendly and informative paper in Russia might do a lot of good to straighten out our image in that country? Would he agree that while we Eire obviously entitled to ask for the same freedom of publication in Russia as they have in Britain, experience has shown that sometimes a policy of half a loaf has to do?

Mr. Allan

Yes, but before we go into details I would hope that the hon. Gentleman will wait until the agreement is signed so that he can see whether we have a whole loaf or half a loaf.