HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 June 1927, Page 3

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

(Australian A N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON. June 15. In the House of ('ominous. Sir Locker l.ampson in reply to <|iio.stions said initiative in improving relations between Britain and Russia should come Iron) the Soviet, whose activities had compelled a. suspension of relations. Lord Birkenhead in a speech on 4th June had made it clear the conditions upon which normal relations could b(> re-established. The Soviet knew if it made constructive proposals that Britain . would consider them, but firstly the Soviet must abstain from propaganda against Britain. Mr Robert Hudson asked were twenty Russians that were recently executed, employed as spies bv the British Mission.

Sir Locker Lampsou ; ”1 answer emphatically in the negative.” Mr Campbell Stephen: “Do you suggest the British .Mission in Russia does not employ spies.” Sir Looker lanipson : “It certainly does not. We do not employ any spies.” Mr Buchanan: “What a lie." Mr Speaker: “That is a most improper interruption. It. must: he withdrawn.” Mr Buchanan consulted his colleagues. but did not indicate a willingness to withdraw the remark, whereupon Mr Speaker called oil him to withdraw from the Chamber and Mr Buchanan walked out. Sir Locker Lanipson in answer to another question said: ‘The United States Government has not been approached with a suggestion that it should contribute to the cost ot the war. Britain's war debt policy is well known. We favour an all round cancellation, but not securing that, we are fnfilling our obligations as debtors, and as creditors we are seeking only to obtain from debtors to Britain and from reparations, sufficient to cover tbe payments made. Ail international conference on war debts would serve no useful purpose in the absence of a pre-agreement on the general principles.”•