THE LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURYMy Lords, I rise to ask His Majesty's Government a Question of which I have given Private Notice. A statement appeared in the newspapers this morning that Mr. North, the British Chaplain at Moscow, had been imprisoned under the Soviet Government, and that some anxiety was felt respecting him. Mr. North is a man about whom the most remarkable testimony has been received for many months and even years past as to his work in Moscow, and that testimony comes from all sides and all parties. Mr. North is a man of the greatest value to the whole community, and anything that affected his well-being or safety would certainly be regarded with dismay by a very large circle of those who are interested in the work that he and those with him have been doing. I desire to know whether His Majesty's Government are able to give any information which can allay the anxiety that is felt respecting him.
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER (THE EARL OF CRAWFORD)My Lords, my attention has been drawn to the alarmist reports published in the Press to-day regarding Mr. North, British Chaplain at Moscow. I am glad that I am able to inform your Lordships that so far from being in prison in Moscow, the rev. gentleman and his wife are at present in quarantine at Terijoki, having crossed the Finnish frontier with a large party of British refugees on the 15th of this month.
Regarding the story of Mr. North's arrest, my only information hitherto is to the effect that he was arrested on March 22 by the authorities at Moscow, and accused of being connected with some White plot which had been discovered in Petrograd in November last,but that after a lengthy cross-examination he was released, as he was able to deny all the charges brought against him.
It is a matter of great satisfaction that Mr. North should have been able to leave Russia, and I am glad to have this opportunity of confirming what the most rev. Primate has said as to the great debt of gratitude which is due to Mr. North for his services in connection with the British community in Moscow during the last few months. From numerous reports which have been received, not only from British prisoners of war, but also from British civilians, it is evident that Mr. North spared no efforts in doing all that was 3 possible to assist our fellow-countrymen who for a variety of reasons had been unable to leave Moscow. With the assistance of several loyal collaborators, who formed a British Committee, he was able to provide extra food and comforts, and by the influence of his personality was able from time to time to induce the Soviet Government to alleviate their lot. Both His Majesty's Minister at Helsingfors, and Lady Marling, who is in charge of the repatriation of these British refugees, have reported the great appreciation felt for Mr. North by the British community at Moscow.