HL Deb 14 November 1950 vol 169 c246

2.37 p.m.

LORD VANSITTART

My Lords, I beg to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask whether the Government condone the action of the British-Polish Friendship Society in financing the visits to Warsaw of leaders of un-official strikes in this country.]

LORD HENDERSON

My Lords, the British-Polish Friendship Society, although run by Communists and fellow-travellers for their own purposes, is a British company registered under the Companies Act. Since no proof has been adduced that the Society has infringed any law or regulation of this country in acting as the noble Lord has indicated, the question of con-donation does not arise.

LORD VANSITTART

My Lords, is the Government aware—I presume they are—that these three leaders of the London Port Workers' Committee (the names, of course, are available, if desired) spent no less than two weeks in Warsaw at the expense of this Society, and therefore of the Cominform, and that their families were also subsidised during their absence? Is not that an abuse of the purposes for which these so-called friendship societies are supposed to have been founded?

LORD HENDERSON

His Majesty's Government certainly do not approve of the purposes for which the Society in this instance used its funds but the Society is not called upon to justify its actions so long as they are within the law.

LORD HAWKE

As the Society is registered under the Companies Act, would the noble Lord see whether His Majesty's Government would appoint a committee of inquiry under the relevant clause of the said Act, to inquire into this Society?

LORD HENDERSON

I do not think it is necessary to appoint such a committee of inquiry.