BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1930, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

MIR HENDERSON QUESTIONED

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, Fch. 17

Mir A. Henderson (Foreign Secretary) was asked hi the House of Commons whether he had yet raised, with the .Soviet Ambassador, the question of religious persecutions in Russia. Mir Henderson replied: “Before I raise such a subject I will have to do my best to determine the facts.” Mir Henderson added that he had as yet received only a preliminary despatch from the British Ambassador at Moscow. The Ambassador, however, was furnishing him with a report in the near future.

Answering further questions he said : “It must be perfectly obvious I cannot commit .myself to any course of action -until I have received the report.”

Mr Henderson stated in reply to a question that while British diplomatic representatives were at all timds prepared to give all proper support to efforts of British exporters to secure contracts and orders abroad, the Foreign Office was considering the advisability of strengthening the commercial side of the diploma Lie staff. He addeu that when 'diplomatic representatives came home and called at the Foreign Office he had made it his business to impress upon them that they should give all possible attention to the matter of increasing British trade abroad.