asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is now in a position to state the intentions of the Government of India as to the introduction at an early date of legislation with the object of preventing delay in the payment of wages and the consequent hardship which delay inflicts on the workers?

My Noble Friend has not heard whether the Government of India have reached a decision, but will inquire.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is now in a position to intimate the intentions of the Government of India in regard to placing members of the uncovenanted services of non-Asiatic domicile upon a similar footing with members of the superior services in the matter of free passages on leave?

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to the hon. Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Wardlaw Milne) on 19th April and to the hon. Member for Penryn (Mr. Pilcher) on 7th June. Further lists of recommendations have been despatched from India, but have not yet reached this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is intended to introduce a Bill releasing the Iraq Government from certain international obligations in accordance with the promise recently made by Sir Henry Dobbs?

The Iraq Government have been released from certain financial obligations incurred under Article 5 of the Financial Agreement of 1924. I am dealing with this matter in my reply to a subsequent question by the hon. and gallant Member. I am not quite sure what he means by "international obligations." There is no question of release from any obligations other than those that I have mentioned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether His Majesty's Government has relinquished any of its financial claims on the Government of Iraq; if so, to what extent; and whether the authority of Parliament will be sought for such action?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Full details of the claim which has been abandoned will be found in Article 5 of the Financial Agreement made under the Anglo-Iraq Treaty of 1922. As regards the third part of the question, the authority of the Treasury has been obtained, and I am advised that it is unnecessary to seek the authority of Parliament for this transaction.

I beg to give notice that, at the end of Questions, I will raise this matter.

Have we received any concession for giving up this £700,000?

No, Sir. If my hon. Friend will read the Report made by in right hon. Friend the Member for Norwich (Mr. Hilton Young) he will see that there were strong reasons for not pressing these particular claims against the Iraq Government.

Is not that an additional reason why Parliament should have a chance of ratifying this arrangement or otherwise?

I have read the Report referred to very carefully and it specially states that substantial concessions in regard to railways should be given.

Is it not a fact that this is British taxpayers' money?

These were particular items after the War which we thought could be reasonably claimed against the Iraq Government. The Iraq Government always demurred to these claims, and in all the negotiations we have had they have pressed their point of view. A special mission was sent out under the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Norwich to inquire into the matter, and they took the view that these claims ought not to be pressed further. We have decided to remit them, and, as I am advised, no Parliamentary authority is needed.

Is it not a fact that, until they were remitted, these items did constitute a debt to the Crown?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that about 140 Jewish families from Iraq and Kurdistan are stranded in Bagdad on their way to Palestine, where they are desirous of settling; that these settlers are possessed of sufficient means, having sold up all their property, but are being discouraged by the delays and are being put to considerable expense; what are the reasons for these delays; and whether he will give instructions for permits to be given as soon as possible to these people?

I have seen a Press report to the effect stated in the question. I have received no official information on the subject.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries into this sad business?

I will.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the amount of the obligation taken over by the Iraq Government of the Ottoman public debt under the Treaty of Lausanne?

It is hardly correct to speak of Iraq having "taken over" on obligation in respect of the Turkish Debt. The Treaty of Lausanne provided that the pre-War Ottoman public debt should be divided between Turkey and the various detached territories in proportion to the gross pre-War revenue of the several areas concerned. The exact amount to be assigned to each area was fixed by the Ottoman Public Debt Council subject to appeal to an arbitrator. The share assigned to Iraq amounted to about 5 per cent. of the total debt, or £6,772,142 Turkish. This total is made up of a number of sums expressed in Turkish currency, but repayable under different conditions regarding conversion into other currencies. Disputes exist in some cases regarding the interpretation of the provisions relating to conversion and repayment. I am consequently not in a position to estimate the precise sterling equivalent of the above figure.

Are we, as the Mandatory Power for Iraq, responsible for the payment of this debt?

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the position in regard to the Government note issue in Gibraltar; whether he is aware that these notes are inconvertible; that each note bears an endorsement stating that the Government of Gibraltar declares the note to be of the value of £1 and to be legal tender for that amount, and undertakes to redeem the said note in sterling money for the full face value at a date to be fixed hereafter by His Excellency the Governor; and what steps he proposes to take to establish a sound and convertible currency in the colony of Gibraltar?

My attention has been drawn to this matter, and I am in consultation with the Treasury with a view to the regularisation of the position.

Is it not the case that these negotiations have been going on for about two years, and will the right hon. Gentleman see that they are expedited?

I will try to do so.

Is it not a fact that currency in Gibraltar is entirely within the responsibility of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and that therefore, in a matter of this kind, this Government are ultimately responsible?

I should have notice of that question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the nature and scope of the inquiry in Kenya which has been entrusted to Mr. Justice Feetham?

Many questions of municipal government and public health in the township areas of Kenya have arisen, and the Governor has appointed a Commission, with an independent chairman to consider these matters, beginning with Nairobi. The Colony is fortunate in obtaining the services of Mr. Justice Feetham as chairman.

Will this inquiry deal with the constitution of Kenya itself?

No, Sir. Certainly not.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has given his sanction to the Kenya Defence Bill; and whether this Bill provides for the compulsory enlistment of Europeans between the ages of 16 and 60?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Kenya Defence Bill, shortly to be introduced into the Kenya Legislature, involves the compulsory enlistment of Europeans; and what is the position of natives under this proposed legislation?

I have approved of the Bill being re-submitted to the Legislative Council subject to certain Amendments. If it becomes law, all male European residents between the ages named will, unless exempted on account of ill-health or occupation or otherwise, be enrolled as members of the local defence force. This does not necessarily mean that every such man will be called up for training or service. Natives are not affected by the Bill.

Will this legislation apply to American citizens?

I should have notice of that question, but I would assume not.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that permission has been granted to two sisal plantation companies in Kenya Colony to import nearly 1,000 men from Portuguese East Africa on contract for a period of 12 months; and will he inquire into the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. I am in communication with the Governor on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the efforts of some of the natives in Kenya to improve the wool-bearing character of their sheep by crossing with merino stock; and whether the Agricultural Department has taken any steps to assist this native aim by facilitating the supply of merino stock for native flocks?

I have just received a report in which the Director of Agriculture refers to the desirability of improving native sheep by introducing a special wool strain and of establishing a stock farm for training pastoral tribes in this and other matters of animal husbandry. I will communicate with the Governor on the subject, which is of importance from the point of view of the well-being of the pastoral tribes and of the Colony's production.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether during the past year there has been an increase of sexual offences in Kenya; and whether the provisions of the Bill for increasing the penalties which has recently passed the Colonial Legislature has been approved by His Majesty's Government?

The necessity for a drastic change in the law relating to sexual offences has been urged on me by the Governor of Kenya, with the support of his Executive Council and the Chief Justice. The Governor has reported that two extremely brutal attacks of a sexual nature by natives on European women have occurred during the last few weeks, and that the police have had information of several others during the year, in which the victims were unwilling to give evidence and no case could, therefore, be brought. As the correspondence has been by telegram, I have not the text of the Ordinance, but it would appear to be covered in all essentials by the authority which I have given.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the Dominion Office and the Colonial Office List is an official publication; and what Department receives the revenue derived from sales and the insertion of advertisements?

No, Sir; the List is not an official publication, and any profits that may be derived from its publication do not accrue to the public revenues.

To whom does it belong?

I believe it belongs to the editor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, with regard to the gift of £2,000,000 made by the Federated Malay States towards the cost of the Singapore naval base, whether, in view of the impropriety of receiving gifts from States not under its protection, the Government will reconsider its acceptance?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, seeing that the gift of £2,000,000 by the Federated Malay States towards the cost of the Singapore naval base is being adversely criticised on the ground that the Imperial Government should not accept such a donation from races not under its protection, he will state whether any guarantee exists that these races will not be over-taxed to provide a sum of this magnitude?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that in Singapore there is criticism as to the principle involved in accepting gifts from non-protected races towards the needs of the Imperial Government; and, if not, whether he will make inquiries with the object of ascertaining local opinion on this point?

Hon. Members appear to be under a misapprehension. The Federated Malay States are territories under His Majesty's protection, and the native inhabitants of these territories possess the status of British protected persons. There is thus no question of His Majesty's Government accepting gifts from non-protected races. There is no reason to anticipate that any excessive taxation will be necessary to provide the sum.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that throughout Malaya there is a great feeling of joy at the spontaneous gift of this sum; and is he further aware that the previous gilt of the Sultan of Perak of His Majesty's Ship "Malaya" was of the greatest assistance to this country during the War?

There is no doubt of that, at all.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what sums have been received by the Imperial Exchequer in respect of interest and sinking fund on the capital expended on the Uganda, Railway, Mombassa to Lake Victoria, for the years 1923, 1924, and 1925?

As I stated in reply to a question on the 30th November, no interest, and, of course, no sinking fund, has so far been charged on this amount, and the question has by arrangement with the Treasury been postponed for consideration in 1934, in view of the continuing necessity for further development of transport in East Africa.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Colonial civil servants employed in the Crown Colonies, Protectorates, and territories mandated to the United Kingdom and the civil servants employed in territories mandated to British Dominions are deemed to be engaged in a common service for the purpose of promotion?

The answer is in the negative. The conditions of service of civil servants employed in territories mandated to the Dominions are entirely under the control of the respective Dominion Governments, and though I should be glad to facilitate interchange so far as possible if it were desired, I do not think that a common service would be practicable. I might add that the Colonial civil servants referred to in the earlier part of the question, whilst not deemed to be engaged in a common service, are in many cases interchanged from time to time.

also asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his Department is organised solely on a regional basis, or whether, in addition to the regional organisation, there is a staff devoted to the study of the various problems of health, agriculture, veterinary services, and geological survey?

The Colonial Office is organised primarily on a regional basis. There is also a General Department, which is concerned with correspondence of a general and miscellaneous character. The study of the various problems mentioned in the question is promoted by reference to various Committees, and expert advisers such as the Colonial Advisory Medical and Sanitary Committee, the Colonial Survey Committee, etc. I have also recently appointed a Chief Medical Adviser to the Colonial Office, who will advise me on medical and sanitary problems arising in,connection with the Colonies and Protectorates.

Is it in contemplation to appoint any advisers on agricultural problems?

I shall have to take that matter into careful consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies which Crown Colonies give customs preference in respect of British goods?

The following Colonies and Dependencies at present grant a preferential rate of import duty to goods of Empire origin:

• Bahamas.
• Barbados.
• British Guiana.
• British Honduras.
• Cyprus.
• Fiji.
• Jamaica.
• Leeward Islands.
• Mauritius.
• Northern Rhodesia.
• Trinidad.
• Windward Islands.

Do any of the mandated territories grant a preference to British goods?

No, Sir. By the conditions of the mandate they are precluded from doing so.

Are we considering reciprocal treatment for these Colonies?

Yes, Sir. In respect of some of their chief products, as, for instance, sugar, tea, cocoa, tobacco, we do give a preference.

Is it not a fact that we give a larger market for Dominion and Colonial products than their market for our export trade?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what subjects will be considered by the Imperial Conference which is to meet in October next; what will be the dates of meeting and the order of business; and what will be the probable duration of the conference?

I hope that it will be possible for a statement on the subject to be made within the course of a very few days.

asked the Prime Minister whether. in view of the fact that subjects such as the nationality of married women and other matters of special interest to women will be discussed at the forthcoming Imperial Conference, he will consider the desirability of appointing women either as representatives or, failing this, as expert advisers?

The question will be considered, hut it will be necessary to bear in mind that subjects of special interest to women will form a very small part of the matters to be discussed at the Conference.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether the Agreement arrived at last year between the various West Indian Colonies and the Dominion of Canada has been ratified by the Government of that Dominion?

Yes, Sir. The Act of the Canadian Parliament approving and giving effect to the Agreement received the Royal Assent on 15th June.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether the contract has been signed and the deposit paid far the purchase of the Wembley site, of the British Imperial Exhibition; what was the amount realised by such sale; and what is the completion date of sale?

I am informed by the liquidators that a contract has been signed and 10 per cent. deposit paid for the sale of the estate of the British Empire Exhibition for the sum of £300,000. This the liquidators, after investigation of previous offers, considered to be the most advantageous proposal received. The date fixed for completion of the purchase is 1st October, 1926, but the purchasers have the option of deferring completion, if desired and after giving proper notice, until 1st July, 1927, on payment of interest at 5 per cent. per annum.

Can the hon. Gentleman say why this property was withdrawn at public auction when an offer of £315,000 was made for it?

That is a question which should be addressed to the auctioneers or the liquidators.

Is there a discretion as to the purposes for which the property may be used?

There was an inquiry, and the restrictions, or whatever the difficulties were, were discussed, and the result of that inquiry was published recently, In any case, the purchasers evidently satisfied themselves that the restrictions, if any, had been removed or were not of such a kind as to prevent them taking the steps they did take with a view to purchase.

Is it the case that this property was withdrawn at £315,000 and then was later sold by private treaty for £300,000?

It may or may not have been the case, but there is one fact which must be borne in mind. Certain obligations rested upon the shoulders of the sellers, the liquidators, and they were considerable; such as the upkeep of rates and taxes and other contracts. Under this sale, as far as I understand it, every obligation which may rest upon the liquidators at date of sale contract has been taken off their shoulders, and the sum for which the property has now been sold covers everything, so that the purchasers take over liabilities which may exist on the property at date of purchase, as part of the bargain at the price agreed upon.

Can the hon. Gentleman answer the straight question I put to him? Is it the case that an offer of £315,000 was made for this property, that the liquidators refused it, and that they later sold it for £300,000?

I cannot say whether or not that was the case, but this I think I can say, that the conditions as to liabilities under which the property has now been sold are different from those under which it was offered before at auction.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether the obligations now entered into will make the price more than £315,000?

Speaking off-hand, I should think they would

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether his Department has had any communications with the Governments of foreign Powers concerning the probable effects of the Merchandise Marks (Imported Goods) Bill upon the trade between this country and the foreign Powers concerned?

No, Sir.

But is not the hon. Member's Department or the Foreign Office going to make inquiries on this important trade matter, and especially with regard to the effect of the widened proposals upon existing Treaties?

I do not see any reason why we should go out on purpose to search for trouble.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether, for the purpose of placing West Indian fruit, and particularly the banana, at a lower price on the English market, consideration is being given to the possibility of the development of this trade under ail British auspices and to the elimination, as far as possible, of the various agencies through which this fruit passes to-day before being placed upon the home market?

This question has been investigated and the point raised by my hon. Friend exhaustively dealt with by the Imperial Economic Committee, whose recommendations will be found on page 268 in their third Report, on "Marketing and preparing for market of foodstuffs produced in the overseas parts of the Empire." I understand that the Empire Marketing Board are at present considering in conjunction with the Imperial Economic Committee what steps should be taken to give effect to the recommendations contained in the Report. I may add that the very points raised by my hon. Friend are dealt with in this Report, which is at the disposal of the hon. Member after Questions.

Thank you very much.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give the number of prosecutions that have been instituted under the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act; the amount of fines imposed; and the amount of arrears of wages recovered?

Seventy prosecutions have been instituted under the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act, 1924, as a result of which fines amounting to £343 have been imposed and arrears of wages amounting to £1,180 recovered.

Does not the Minister think that, in view of the facts, there is a case for the appointment of more inspectors under the Act?

We have now 10 inspectors, and an additional four were appointed only last autumn. We are now in a position to make test inspections in various parts of the country.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, considering that a subsidy of over £70,000 was paid during the past season in respect of British sugar molasses containing less than 70 per cent. and not more than 50 per cent. of sugar, he will inquire whether this waste of sugar in the molasses and also a considerable amount of the subsidy paid can be saved by more efficient manufacture; and whether he is aware that molasses with an extra 2 per cent. of sugar is used for the purpose of feeding stock, just as is the cheaper molasses on which a lower subsidy is paid because the residue of sugar is smaller?

The subsidy on molasses cannot be separated from the subsidy on sugar; it forms part of a total measure of assistance granted by Parliament to the industry as a whole. As a certain amount of sweetening matter must always remain in the residues of sugar manufacture it cannot be described as "waste." If the manufacturer secures a higher quantity of sugar from the beet juice, he secures a larger amount of subsidy on the sugar he makes, but a less amount of subsidy on the residues. I have no power to interfere with the manu- facturer's liberty in the conduct of his business, nor with his freedom in his choice of the market for his residues.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that by wasting an additional 2 per cent. of extractable sugar the factories are able to get a higher subsidy, having regard to both sides of the production?

They get a higher subsidy for molasses but a lower subsidy for sugar.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the anxiety and misunderstanding amongst meat traders in this country on account of recent official statements regarding the lack of any evidence to show that the virus of foot-and-mouth disease could be conveyed by frozen meat; if he can now state the ground upon which the Order excluding Continental fresh meat is based, while supplies of chilled and frozen meat from the Argentine, where disease has been prevalent for many years, are still allowed to enter this country?

The Order in question was made because of the actual discovery of foot-and-mouth disease in three consignments of pig carcases from the Continent. No case of disease has been traced to Argentine meat, and in the absence of definite proof that disease has been introduced by such material, the prohibition of its importation would not be justified.

Has the right hon. Gentleman paid attention to the largely increasing price of store pigs?

asked the Minister of Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to the statement of the veterinary inspector of the Dutch Government to the effect that complete investigation had failed to show that infected pigs from Holland had been responsible for introducing disease to this country, and to his further statement, made with the concurrence of the British veterinary inspector, that the carcases sent back from England in the steamship "Schokland" were entirely free from disease; and whether, in view of the conflict of evidence, he expects to be able to modify or remove the embargo on Dutch meat when the full facts have been ascertained?

My attention has been drawn to certain statements in the Press attributed to a veterinary inspector of the Dutch Government, but the discovery in a British bacon factory of the feet of Dutch pigs bearing healed lesions of foot-and-mouth disease admits of no doubt that infective material was being imported. The result of inquiries in Holland makes it reasonably certain that carcases of animals slaughtered while in the highly infective incubative stages of disease must have reached this country, inasmuch as pigs are allowed to go from farms on which disease exists to a slaughterhouse exporting pigs to Great Britain. It is true that the carcases showing visible evidence of disease found on the steamship "Schokland" ex Rotterdam were of Belgian origin. As I have already announced, I cannot hope to be able to modify or remove the embargo on Dutch meat until the risk of introduction of disease has been eliminated.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many outbreaks of food-and-mouth disease have been notified in this country since the embargo on the importation of Continental fresh meat was imposed; where the outbreaks have occurred; how many contact animals have been slaughtered; how the carcases of any animals slaughtered were disposed of; and if the source of infection has yet been traced?

As the reply is rather long and contains a number of figures, I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Does the right. hon. Gentleman still think it possible that the outbreak from which we have suffered may have been due to foreign meat?

It is impossible yet to say definitely the cause. There are three centres of infection, and they develop at such dates that it might conceivably be accounted for by the imports of foreign meat. But I never pretended that this embargo is a certain preventive of all infection, and the Order' has only been issued as stopping the most obvious proved channel.

When the right hon. Gentleman is dealing with this matter, will he consider the case of the importers of foreign meat and the hawkers of foreign onions?

Assuming that the embargo is justified in the case of Holland and Belgium, ought not all possible sources of infection to be similarly closed? On what ground is exception justified?

We have closed all importation against all countries who send us fresh meat where foot-and-mouth disease exists. We arc still willing to receive fresh meat, for example, from Iceland, say, where there is no disease.

With regard to the Argentine, where there has been disease, why did not the embargo apply there?

Because we do not get any fresh meat from there; it is all chilled or frozen.

Are the carcases of the animals burned as soon as possible?

They are burned as soon as possible or buried in quicklime, according to the condition of the case; but in present circumstances it is impossible to get fuel to burn them.

If the exception in the case of the Argentine is explained on the ground that the supply there is frozen or chilled, ought not the embargo in the case of Holland and Belgium, o here we get chilled or frozen meat, to be lifted?

No, I give the distinction between Europe arid the Argentine roughly as being that in the one case they send us fresh meat and in the other chilled, but that is not the only difference. Europe is far more heavily infected than the Argentine. Standstill orders in Europe are absolutely impossible, whereas in the Argentine there are quarantine regulations which, according to our information, have proved effective.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can now state the attitude of His Majesty's Government towards Egypt's application for membership of the League of Nations?

No, Sir. I do not propose to define the attitude of His Majesty's Government in what is at present a purely hypothetical contingency.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the wife of an official in the British Mission at Moscow was recently arrested by the G.P.U.; with what offence was she charged; and whether representations were made to the Soviet Government on the subject?

I have made inquiries and have ascertained that there is no foundation for the report which has reached my hon. and gallant Friend.

Is it not a fact that the members of the British delegation at Moscow are still shadowed by the G.P.U.?

That is not the question on the Paper. Perhaps the hon. and gallant Gentleman will give me notice; I have had no complaints at all.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that, after the Russo-British diplomatic conflict in 1923, the British Government of the day gave a pledge to the Government of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics that His Majesty's Government will be quite willing, in the event of any future infringement of the pledge thus again recorded, that the case should be brought immediately to the attention of the Government concerned rather than that such incidents, if they are found to occur, should be allowed to accumulate before complaint is made, and that under this agreement several incidents which were the subject of complaint on both sides were satisfactorily disposed of, and why, under the circumstances, His Majesty's Government; decided to abrogate the above agreement; and whether at any time His Majesty's Government informed the Government of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics that the former did not intend in future to abide by this agreement?

Yes, Sir. I am aware that His Majesty's Government stated that they were willing to follow the procedure described by the hon. Member, and several incidents have been liquidated by means of it. The Agreement has not been abrogated, but I have not thought that any good purpose would be served by a constant stream of complaints in the present state of relations between the two Governments.

Would it not be better for the Government to state in a diplomatic manner causes of complaint against the Soviet Government, rather than allow members of the Government to make incendiary speeches up and clown the country.

Perhaps I may be permitted to disregard the latter part of this question, and to state that, while I have not thought it would serve any useful purpose to make a continuous stream of complaints, I have left the Soviet chargé d'affaires, when I saw him, under no misapprehension as to the general causes of complaint of His Majesty's Government.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give a concrete instance where these representations have been made?

No, Sir, they have not been made in my time except in so far as the House is already aware.

Is the right hon. Gentleman's disregard of the latter part of my hon. Friend's question caused by a disregard of collective responsibility on the part of the Government?

No, Sir; but that part was only intended to be offensive.

Oh!

Will the right hon. Gentleman toll the House why the course pursued with the representative of the Soviet Government is different, from that which he would take with the representative of any other Government with which an agreement had been made?

Because no other Government that I know would behave in the some manner as the Soviet Government.

In what particular has the Sovict Government behaved differently from other Governments?

We cannot discuss that at Question Time.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that the German Government and German business men have jointly arranged to give a credit of £15,000,000 to assist the development of German export Trade to Russia; whether he is aware that much of this money has been raised on the London market; and whether, as this agreement will give to German manufacturers and exporters an advantage over British manufacturers and exporters, His Majesty's Government intend taking any special measures to assist British firms who are at present trading or intend trading with Russia?

As regards the first part of the question, I understand that with the assistance of the German Government a credit has been arranged for financing Russo-German trade up to from £6,000,000 to £7,500,000. Credits have not been arranged up to the £15,000,000 originally proposed. With regard to the second part, I am not aware that any of this money has been raised on the London market. With regard to the third part, I would refer the hon. Member to the speech of the President of the Board of Trade on 10th March last.

Can the hon. Member say whether or not an Anglo-German Trust has been formed in London, for the purpose of financing this business during the last month, with which Lord Ashfield is connected?

I have no knowledge of it.

Is it not the fact that in the case of the recent large loan that was raised, a large amount was subscribed from this country?

I have no knowledge of any loan. I do not know to which loan the hon. Member refers.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that the German Government could hardly afford to back this loan now if it were not for the German Government loan of £18,000,000 obtained in this country 12 months ago?

That is another matter, and I do not agree with what my hon. Friend says.

Is it not a well-known fact in money circles in this country that a great deal of the money we advanced to Germany is used by Germany to capture trade in Russia which would otherwise come to us?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that paragraph 13 of the Trade Agreement between His Britannic Majesty's Government and the Government of the Russian Socialist Federal Soviet Republic expressly provides that, in the event of the infringement of the provisions of the agreement or the conditions in the preamble to the same by either party, the other party shall immediately be free from the obligations of the agreement, and seeing that the British Government have publicly stated that the terms of the agreement have been repeatedly broken by the Soviet Government, he will take immediate steps to release British citizens from the disabilities under which they now suffer by reason of the agreement in being prevented from suing in the Courts of this country Russian trading companies established under the agreement, who are selling in Great Britain property which has been forcibly appropriated from British nationals without any compensation being paid therefor?

My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension in thinking that the abrogation of the Trade Agreement would achieve the object which he has in view. He will find the law stated in the judgment of the Court of Appeal in the case Luther v. Sagor in1921.

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that it is the fact that international status is given to these companies by reason of the Trade Agreement that has prevented British citizens from suing in the Courts of this country for property belonging to them which has been taken without compensation?

No, Sir. My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Mr. Martin has lodged any statement of claim with the Foreign Office or any of its Departments for damages alleged to have been inflicted on him by the Soviet Government during the period of his detention by that Government; and, if such a statement of claim has been lodged, will he state the money value of the claim and lay upon the Table of the House a copy of such claim?

Yes, Sir. Mr. Martin has lodged a claim with the Russian Claims Department of the Board of Trade against the Soviet Government for £20,000 in respect of imprisonment and confiscation of property. I do not consider that any useful purpose would he served by laying papers.

In view of the publicity given to this case, would it not be a good thing to allow the public to hear or to read everything Mr. Martin has to say about his treatment rather than leaving it to hearsay?

There is already on the Notice Paper another question about the nature of Mr. Martin's claim or about his injuries, which I shall answer in due course. I think it would be a bad precedent to lay papers in regard to one out of the many claims which have been presented.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Mr. Martin is anxious for every form of publicity for his case?

The anxiety of Mr. Martin for publicity will not affect the judgment which I have expressed to the hon. Gentleman.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that Russia's purchases in Great Britain increased from £2,809,541 in the year 1920 to £31,170,995 in the year 1925; whether Great Britain's trade with any other foreign country can show the same proportional increase during the years mentioned; and whether, under these circumstances, the Government will take all the measures within its powers to foster and encourage this trade?

I am unable to express an opinion as to the accuracy of the figures quoted by the hon. Member, which are taken, I gather, from an article in the "Soviet Union Monthly." It is there stated that the figures include purchases in other countries of goods to be shipped to Russia without touching at ports in the United Kingdom. As the figures do not relate solely to British exports, no comparison can be made between them and our trade with other countries.

Is the hon. Member not aware that these figures have been endorsed by the Anglo-Russian Chamber of Commerce, of which a colleague of his was a leading member until he joined the Government?

If the hon. Member will permit me to say so without offence, I think he has created a trap for himself and fallen into it. He makes use of the word "purchase." Purchases can be made by the Russian representatives in London of large amounts of, say, Brazilian goods which might be sent straight from Rio de Janeiro to Russia, but they would not constitute an export from this country of British goods or a re-export of British goods. The hon. Member's figures may well be correct, without constituting any export from this country of British goods or a re-export of British goods. They may refer to business which would not have anything to do with this country.

Can the hon. Gentleman say what proportion of these figures represent British and Empire purchases?

Yes, Sir; if the hon. Gentleman will wait just a moment until I answer another question on this subject down on the Paper, my reply will give him those figures.

As these figures have been endorsed and supplied by the Anglo-Russian Chamber of Commerce, is he prepared to withdraw his allegation that my figures were taken from the Soviet Union Review?

I did not deny the correctness of the hon. Member's figures. They may well be correct, wherever they may come from, but I do not think they are a reliable index of the value of exports by Britain to Russia.

Then why bring in the Soviet Union?

The Review was sent to me anonymously and I used it for information.

Is not the remarkable growth of trade mentioned in the question a strong reason why the Government should not interfere? If there is genuine trade to be done, will it not be done quite apart from the Government?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that Russian purchases in Great Britain from the years 1920 to 1925, inclusive, reached the sum total of £70,154,378, and that during the same years, Russian sales on the British market reached the total sum of £64,609,071; that the Russian trading organisations in Germany have concluded an agreement with the German Government and German banking and industrial houses for a credit of £15,000,000 to increase the development of German-Russian trade; and whether, under the circumstances, His Majesty's Government will extend immediately the Trade Facilities Acts to British-Russian trade?

As regards the figures quoted in the first part of the question, I may refer the hon. Member to the reply which I have given to his previous question. With regard to the second and third parts of the question, I would refer him to the reply which I have just given to the hon. Member for the Forest of Dean.

If it is the case that those, figures are approximately right, and that there is a growing export trade from this country to Russia, will the hon. Member use his influence with prominent colleagues of his own to prevent them from crabbing that trade?

That does not arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total value of exports to the Soviet Republic of British manufactured goods and pro- ducts for the years 1920 to 1925 inclusive; similarly, of re-exports from Great Britain to the Soviet Republic for the same years; of the total imports in those years from Soviet Russia; and what is the balance in favour of the Soviet of unexpended credit in respect of such Anglo-Russian trade?

It is difficult to give figures for 1920 comparable with those for later years, owing to alterations of frontiers; but the excess of imports over exports, and re-exports, of merchandise in our trade with Soviet Russia, as declared for the three years 1921–23 was, roughly, £7,500,000, and for the two years 1924–25, roughly, £14,500,000. An allowance must be made for invisible imports and exports, as to the amount of which we have no exact information. I will, with permission, circulate the figures in detail in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the hon. Member tell us what the exports of British goods were last year?

The exports of British goods for 1925 were £6,165,968.

Will the hon. Gentleman answer the last part of the question?

Yes. Roughly, the trade balance in favour of Russia for the last two years would be £14,500,000 sterling.

Is not that a direct contradiction of the statement made in this House by the hon. Member himself?

No. I repeat figures now within half a million of what I said in the House the other day.

May I ask whether some of the exports from Russia are not highly invisible?

Seeing that the hon. Gentleman has given us the exports for last year to Russia, will he tell us what are the re-exports of British and Dominion goods from this country to Russia?

That question should be put down on tile Order Paper.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he has any information to confirm the recent Report issued by the Bird Sanctuaries Committee of England to the effect that rare and interesting birds which had previously been. observed within the bird sanctuary in Hyde Park had, since the unveiling of the masonry portion of the memorial, entirely ceased to frequent the sanctuary; and whether, by judicious planting or otherwise, he can do anything to restore the sanctuary to its primary purpose as a home and resting place for birds?

I understand that there is some difference of opinion among birds as to the merits of the memorial, but the majority have loyally accepted the decision of the First Commissioner of Works that the monument must be retained. It appears that the minority, including a chiff-chaff, have migrated to other parts of the Park Four warblers have, however, been seen in the Sanctuary since the unveiling, and it is possible that the young of the migrating birds have taken up their abode at the Sanctuary on the recommendation of their parents.

Will my hon. and gallant Friend, at any rate, admit that a large number of birds have been driven away by this piece of sculpture, and does he not think it desirable that a piece of sculpture that acts as a scarecrow to the birds should be at some other place where its admirers can see it, and where it would not frighten away the birds?