QUESTIONS IN COMMONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 11 March 1930, Page 5

QUESTIONS IN COMMONS

FOREIGN SECRETARY’S REPLIES

(British Official Wireless)

RUGBY, 10th March. Questions were put to Mr Henderson. Foreign Secretary, in* the House of Commons regarding an announcement made by the presidium of the Third International in Moscow that instructions had been issued to its agents to organise strikes and riots in Great Britain and tlie British dominions and colonies.. One member asked whether tiie Foreign Secretary’s attention had been called to tlie fact that last Thursday’s unemployment demonstrations in this country were organised by tlie Communist Party on representations from Moscow.

.Mr Henderson, replying to the questions, said lie had no doubt that tlie Communist International were at pains to produce tiie manifestations of last Thursday in this country, hut in view of tlie exceedingly feeble response to its efforts lie trusted that no undue alarm would be felt in any quarter of tlie House. As he had previously explained, tlie Government would not hesitate to take the House into its confidence should serious cause for complaints arise, but lie would again repeat that it intended in the first instance to be the judges as to tlie gravity or otherwise of particular incidents and of the action which might be expedient and necessary to safeguard the interests of this country. Mr Henderson was asked whether lie had now satisfied himself that there was religious perscutions in Russia and whether any action was being taken by the Government in the matter. He replied that from a study of the Soviet Government’s attitude respecting religious associations he had no doubt it indicated continuance of anti-religious pressure which had consistently and for many years past been a notorious feature of Soviet policy. He could not, however, believe any action which it was open to the Government to take would he calculated to further the cause of religious liberty.