RELIGION IN RUSSIA

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 39, 15 February 1930, Page 9

RELIGION IN RUSSIA

SOVIET PEESECUTION

PROTEST IN PARLIAMENT

British Official Wireless.

(Received loth February, 8 a.m.)' >

BUGBY, 13th February. '

Tho Foreign Secretary, ,Mr. A. Henderson, was asked in the House of Commons by Mr. Loeker-Lampson, former Conservative Uuder-Secretary for Foreign- Affairs, whether he would take immediate steps under Article 11 of tho Covenant of tho League of Nations to bring before the League tho question of tho conditions affecting religious liberty in Bussia.

Mr. Henderson replied: "The reports current regarding the religious situation in Bussia have caused widespread and deep concern, in thia and other countries^ and are receiving the serious consideration of His Majesty's Government. ' I have gravo doubts whether the course suggested by Mr. Loeker-Lainpson would promote tho object which he has in view, but the House may. rest assured that His Majesty's Government will, when possible or compatible with the interests of those affected, use all its influence in support of the cause of religious liberty and freedom of religious practice." Beplying to a further question, Mr. Henderson said that he was now awaiting a report from the British Representative in Russia on the religious (situation. . PRIMATE AND POLITICS. In the House of Lords, Lord Hayter, 'Conservative, asked whether the Govieuaiment had called the attention of tilie Soviet Government to the fact that P^ts action against. Christian churches laimong the peoples of Bussia was not iin accord with the British principles of justice, and could not assist in Maintaining the friendship between. Gi eat Britain and Bussia. 'The Archbishop of Canterbury said thjit this matter concerned him directly,, both officially and personally. He referred to the solemn protest against rely.gious persecution in Russia which he had made at the Convocation of Canterbury yesterday in the name- of thet Church of England, and to the resolu.tion of the Bishops endorsing that proiest. He added, however, that tho Bisliops desired to dissociate the protest; from the more political issues wh^jh had been made. They felt that the force of their protest in the name of Religion and humanity would be greajter if it could not be regarded as part of any political movement. POINTS OF DIFFICULTY. Lo^rd Parmoor, replying for the Government, said that he would not seek to dcjny the great importance of the questj on. It raised, however, points of gijeat, difficulty and responsibility. He agreed with the Archbishop of Canterbury that it was our duty to inquire into the accuracy of ■ the statements whieti had been made. Tho primary dSfficuly from the political standpoint v/as that, while we stood for religious JUberty and against religious persecution, wo' had to consider the matter from the constitutional position, and aUlow in other countries the same liberty in matters of internal and domestic 'policy that we claimed for ourselves. ■■ It had been made,the basis of any ags cement which might be made between; Bussia and ourselves that we should jiot interest ourselves in matters of ;internal or domestic concern. The Government, in common with all parties in this country, was fundamentally opposed to any form of religious persecution, and it desired to promote by every; legitimate means the sacred cause of :freedom for all forms of religious thol'ight and action, but we must be very ul what we did, so that in the result we did not do injury by increasing the persecution of the very; persons ivViom we desired to protect. Lord P3 rmoor added that the Foreign Secretary would do all he could in the matter and he read the statement macty! by Mr. Henderson on the subject in :the House of Commons.