§ 2.37 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT STANSGATEMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consider making a general statement after the Recess as to the growing intensity of psychological warfare and espionage in Europe and on the nature of the N.T.S. and kindred organisations; and whether the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards Russia will continue to be governed by the directive given by the Prime Minister in his recent speech to the Primrose League.]
1074§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY)My Lords, the noble Viscount may rest assured that it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government to work for an improvement in international relations. As was made clear in the Prime Minister's speech to the Primrose League, this applies, and it will continue to apply, to our relations with the Soviet Union. As regards the first part of the noble Viscount's Question, I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by a detailed statement on the lines suggested, which might well have the result of intensifying, rather than allaying, tension.
§ VISCOUNT STANSGATEMay I express my real gratitude to the noble Marquess for that Answer.