§ LIEUT.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affaire whether he has now 1665W received copies of the replies to the Notes addressed by the Supreme Council to the German and neutral Governments, requesting their co-operation in a form of blockade of Soviet Russia; and, if so, what is the nature of such replies?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODissued the following statement as promised in his reply to the above Question yesterday:
Sweden.—The Swedish Government has broken off all relations with the Soviet Russia since the beginning of the present year. The Swedish Government has no legal right to enact a general prohibition on Swedish subjects entering into business relations with nationals of another State, but has taken the following measures, which are in practice effective:
(a) There is a prohibition on shipping of over 200 tons leaving a Swedish port for a foreign port without a licence.
No licence is granted to ships bound for Soviet Russia
The Swedish Government is prepared to do everything in its power to prevent Swedish ships from exposing themselves to action on the part of Allied warships operating in the Gulf of Finland.
(b) So far as export prohibitions are still in force in Sweden, no licence is granted for Soviet Russia.
(c). No passports are issued for Soviet Russia without a special authorisation from the Swedish Government.
(d)The principal banks have undertaken not to facilitate banking transactions with Soviet Russia. The import and export of roubles is prohibited
(e)All correspondence, postal or telegraphic, is suspended.
Denmark.—The Danish Government has had no relations with Soviet Russia since November, 1918. The situation in Den mark conresponds to the desire expressed by the Allied and Associated Powers, and in particular the Danish Government has put in force the following measures:
(a) Instructions have been given to the local Customs to inform the Central Customs Office of any application for clearance papers for Soviet Russia. No such applications, have in fact been received.
(b) So far as export prohibitions are still in force in Denmark, no licences are issued for Soviet Russia.
Where no export prohibitions exist, measures under (a) apply.
1666W(c)No passports for Soviet Russia are issued without special reference to the Ministry of Justice.
(d)and (e) The same as for Sweden Finland.—The Finnish Government are pursuing the policy indicated in the Allied Note. For humanitarian reasons passports are issued for entry into Fin land of non-Bolshevik refugees, this being Considered as one of the special cases contemplated by the Allies.
Holland.—The Netherlands Government have no relations with Soviet Russia, and all commerce is suspended.
Spain.—The Spanish Government ap prove the Allied proposals, and have taken the necessary measures.
Switzerland.—The measures indicated conform to those already in force in Switzerland.
No reply has been received from Norway by His Majesty's Government, but the Norwegian Foreign Office have informed the French Government that the measures indicated have already been taken by the Norwegian Government, which for a long time past has severed relations with Soviet Russia.