§ 2.55 p.m.
§ LORD VANSITTARTMy Lords, I beg to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government who pays, and how, for the expenses of the numerous persons travelling to and in China via other Communist countries on ostensible missions of trade or friendship.]
THE MARQUESS OF READINGMy Lords, although I cannot say exactly how these people finance these journeys, I believe that their fares and expenses while in Communist countries are normally paid by the bodies which invite them. The question of the use of foreign exchange in travelling to Communist territory would not arise, since it is possible to pay in sterling for a passage to such places as Prague.
§ LORD VANSITTARTMy Lords, would the noble Marquess consider asking the Law Officers for an opinion whether there is any offence in accepting financial favours from a country with which we are engaged in hostilities?
THE MARQUESS OF READINGMy Lords, there are one or two assumptions in that question which I think perhaps render it not very valuable at the moment to ask the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown. Any suggestion coming from the noble Lord on these matters is always worthy of consideration and will accordingly be considered.
LORD STRABOLGIMy Lords, do I understand that Her Majesty's Government have declared war on any countries while we have been in Recess?
§ LORD VANSITTARTI should like to point out that I was careful to make no mention of a state of war, but to state the fact that we are engaged in hostilities. There is no assumption whatever in that statement.