RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1929, Page 11

RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA

KEEN DEBATE IN HOUSE

SHARP QUESTIONS ASKED HOSTILE - MOTION LOST By Telegraph— Press Assn.—Copyright’. -.' 1 Rcc. 7.20 p-m. London, Dec. 18. The Foreign Minister, Mr. Arthur Henderson, in answer to a question in th» Houee of Commons said the subjects for immediate-discussion with the Soviet Am" „ bassador were set out in the protocol. • Sir Kingsley -Wood: Won’t you immedip-- - ately- discuss ;the - grave ■ religioustion in- Russia? . . Mr. E. Majorbanks, Unionist, member for ■■ ■. East--’Sussex': Will - you inform him: that. only the House of■ Commons can ’ apjrbve. of the resumption of relations. - ‘ J - : ' / There was no reply. ‘ , , L- ’ ; Captain MacDonald moved a motion disapproving of the Government’s negotiations with Russia and' condemning the careleeß drafting of the protocol of agreement., Captain' R. A. Eden, seconding th 4 ’ motion, said he" could not understand, 'the Labour members’ fascination for-.the can esses of the bear which had alreadj' killed one and might be expected to exterminate another Labour Government. - . . . ; Sir Austen Chamberlain said the protocol -y provided for the approval of Parliament* If - Mr. Henderson meant to ..ignore. the House of Lords he should not imply in official documents that the House of Commons’. was Parliament’s sanction. In the negotiations Mr. Henderson had. showQ ■ himself as squeezable as 'putty in the handi ■ of the Soviet’s representatives and haq prepared the way for the exacerbation of the bitterness of Soviet propaganda throughout, the Empire, Mr. Henderson, replying, said.it.was-.sup? prising to submit such a motion when th 4 ■ House of Commons by a majority qf-; 125 had already accepted rtlie negotiations: and their -result. Parliament was” the righl word to use to mako it plain that the Eke, cutive-could act only after approval by the relevant 'Parliamentary authority.' Regarding propaganda, the Minister added, there, had been an exchange of .noteg b on the subject, and in addition, at tbp. r& f quest of the Dominions, there would ’be supplementary note, in which the name of each Dominion would be specifically meBR tioned.. The Soviet’s propaganda woul4 thus apply to the whole Empire, including India. ; ; • - . The motiofi . was defeated by 251 votoS' to 107.