SOVIET TRIAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22984, 11 March 1938, Page 9

SOVIET TRIAL

BRITAIN'S ANSWER

CHARGES NOT TRUE

EFFECT ON RELATIONS

LADY M. PAGETS WORK

ALLEGATION DENIED

By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received March 10, 7 p.m.) LONDON. March 10 Speaking in the House of Commons to-day, the Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain, said he was aware of the prejudicial manner in which the Soviet trial was likely to affect relations between Britain and Russia, but he doubted whether the untrue allegations would be believed outside Russia. "The British Government has not been guilty of any breach of its agreement with the Soviet, and has not employed on intelligence work any of the British subjects named at the tj-ial, nor has the Government engaged in any subversive activities whatever."

Miss Ellen Wilkinson (Labour —Jarrow) : In view of the fact that many distinguished British citizens, such as Lady Muriel Paget, have been lecturing on their experiences as members of the British Intelligence Service, does that quite square with the Prime Minister's statement ?

Mr. Chamberlain: Lady Muriel has had no experience of British Intelligence work. Her work has been unselfish and humanitarian.

Miss Wilkinson: Those of us who know something about her work have reason to doubt that statement. In an interview with a representative of the News Chronicle, Lady Muriel Pnget's secretary said Miss Wilkinson's statement was simply laughable. It was absolutely untrue. Lady Muriel had never worked for the British Intelligence Service.