HC Deb 29 July 1937 vol 326 cc3356-8W
Sir W. Davison

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he has now ascertained the reason why Major D. Graham Pole, formerly Member of Parliament for South Derbyshire, when on a cruise on the steamship "Empress of Australia," was refused permission to land at Leningrad, although booked for in-tourist sightseeing and having complied with all the formalities considered necessary by Intourist, Limited, the Soviet authorities declining to give any reason for such refusal; and whether he is aware that the above facts were brought to the attention of His Majesty's ambassador in Moscow on the 21st July?

Viscount Cranborne

As stated in the reply which was given to my hon. Friend's previous question on this subject on Monday, my right hon. Friend has requested His Majesty's ambassador at Moscow to approach the Soviet Government with a view to ascertaining the reasons for the action of the Leningrad authorities, if he had not already done so. I will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as the ambassador's report is received.