§ 13. Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further approaches have been made to the Soviet Government regarding the trials of Jews, following the interview between Sir Denis Greenhill and the Soviet Ambassador concerning the sentences passed at the Leningrad trial.
§ 51. Mr. Gorstasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he intends to make under Article 13 of the Declaration of Human Rights to press the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, which is in breach of that Declaration, to permit Jewish or other individuals wishing to leave the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics of their own volition to do so freely; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeOn my instructions, Sir Denis Greenhill saw the Soviet Ambassador on this subject on 27th December. Since then no further approaches have been made. However. the Soviet Government are well aware of our views, and I myself mentioned our concern to Mr. Gromyko when he visited London last October.
§ Mr. Greville JannerWhile I welcome that answer, may I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware of the deep concern felt on both sides of the House regarding the continued plight of Jewish people in the Soviet Union? Will he, through his answer to this Question, send a message to the International Conference, which is being held in Brussels later this week, expressing not only the Government's concern but that of the British people on this issue?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeYes, Sir. It is true that there is very widespread concern, and I voice it here. This is a matter concerning the internal affairs of the Soviet Union, but we have made quite clear how much we think that the policies which they pursue damage the reputation of the Soviets in the world outside.
§ Mr. GorstIs my right hon. Friend aware that on 9th February, 1882, a Question was put to the Prime Minister at the time about the persecution of Jews 22 in Russia and he undertook to make representations to the Russian Government? Is my right hon. Friend further aware that to have to wait 89 years to achieve something is by no means satisfactory? Will he assure the House that we shall not have to wait a further 89 years and put further Questions down to the Foreign Secretary regarding the persecution of Jews in Russia?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeMy hon. Friend's quotation seems to suggest that the policy of the Russian Government does not change, and I am glad to say that in 89 years the policy of Her Majesty's Government has not changed either. [Interruption.]
§ Mr. MayhewIs the Foreign Secretary aware that, though the Russians' treatment of their minorities, including their Jewish minorities, is plainly indefensible, it is not yet so openly racialist, nor has it caused such hardship and injustice, as the treatment of Palestinian Arabs by the Israelis, as is well shown? To establish this point, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman to study the reports of the International Red Cross, Amnesty International and the United Nations and to resist these calls to apply double standards of morality on points of this kind?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeI do not think that this point arises from the specific Question which I was asked. Persecution of Jews by anybody, or indeed persecution of all minorities, is abhorrent.
I should have answered the previous supplementary question by saying that Her Majesty's Government's policy "on this matter" has not changed.
§ Sir D. Walker-SmithIs my right hon. Friend aware that when I raised this matter at the Interparliamentary Conference at Lima and drew attention to the concern felt in this country on this matter, one of the Eastern European delegates suggested that that concern derived from false propaganda? Will my right hon. Friend, with his higher authority. confirm that this concern exists and derives from the facts as we know them?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeYes, Sir.
§ Mr. HealeyWill the right hon. Gentleman accept that this is one matter 23 on which Her Government's Opposition are totally at one with Her Majesty's Government? There are many grounds for concern at the persecution of Jews not only in the Soviet Union but in various East European countries.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-Homeindicated assent.