RUSSIAN PERSECUTION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17185, 15 February 1930, Page 5

RUSSIAN PERSECUTION

BRITISH PERTURBATION GOVERNMENT’S ATTITUDE STATEMENTS IN PARLIAMENT (British Official Wireless.) Roe. 10 a.m. RUGBY, Feb. It. The Foregin Secretary was asked in the House of Commons by Mr. G. Locker-Lam pson, former Conservative Under-See rotary for Foreign Affairs, whether lie would take immediate steps under article 11 of the covenant of tlie League of Nations to bring before the League the question of conditions affecting religious liberty in Russia.

Mr. A. Henderson replied: “Reports 'Current regarding the religious situation in Russia have caused widespread and deep concern in this and other countries, and are receiving the serious consideration of Ilis Majesty’s Government. 1 have grave doubts as to whether the course suggested by Mr, Loeker-Lampson would promote the object which he has in view, but the House .may rest assured that His Majesty’s Government will, when it is 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." Replying to a further question, Mr. Henderson said he was now awaiting a report from the British representative in Russia on the religious shunt inn.

In the House of Lords, Lord Hay for, a Conservative, asked whether the Government had called the attention of the Soviet. Government to the fact that its action against the Christian churches and peoples of Russia was not in accord with British principles of justice, and cannot assist in maintaining friendship between Great Britain and Russia.

The Archbishop of Canterbury said this matter concerned him directly, both officially and personally. He referred to the solemn protest against religious persecution in Russia which lie made at the Convocation of Canterbury yesterday in the name of the Church of England, and to the resolution of the bishops endorsing that protest.

NO POLITICAL MOTIVES He added, however, that the bishops desired to dissociate the protest from the mere political issues which had been made. They, felt that tho force of their protest in the name of religion and humanity would he greater if it could not be regarded as part of any political movement. Lord Parmoor, replying for the Government, said lie would not seek to deny the great importance of the question. It raised, however, points of great difficulty and responsibility. He agreed with the Archbishop of Canterbury that it was our duty to inquire into the accuracy of the statements which had been made. The primary difficulty from a political standpoint was that while we stood for religious liberty and against religious persecution we had to consider the matter from a constitutional point of view and allow 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 agreement which might be made between Russia and ourselves that we should not 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 use of freedom for all forms of religious thought and action, but we must bo very careful what wc did, so that in the result we did not do injury by increasing the persecution of the very persons whom we desired to protect. Lord'Parmoor added that the Foreign Secretary would do all he could in the matter, and he read the statement, made by Mr. Henderson on the subject in 'tho House of Commons.