COMMUNISTS ACTIVE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 918, 11 March 1930, Page 9

COMMUNISTS ACTIVE

GOVERNMENT SAYS NO ALARM FELT “A FEEBLE RESPONSE” British Official Wireless Reed. 11.50 a.m. RUGBY, Monday. A series of questions were put to Mr. Arthur Henderson, Foreign Secretary, in the House of Commons regarding an announcement made by the presidium of the Third International in Moscow that instructions had been issued to its agents to organise strikes and riots in Great Britain and the British dominions and colonies. One member asked whether the Foreign Secretary’s attention had been called to the fact that last Thursday’s unemployment demonstrations in this country were organised by the Communist Party on representations from Moscow. Mr. Henderson, replying to the questions, said he had no doubt that the Communist International was at pains to produce the manifestations of last Thursday in this country, but in view of the exceedingly feeble response to its efforts, he trusted that no undue alarm would be felt in any quarter of the House. SOVIET'S OLD POLICY As he had previously explained, the Government would not hesitate to take the House into its confidence should serious cause for complaints arise, hut lie would again repeat that they intended in the first instance to be judges as to the gravity or otherwise of particular incidents and of action which might be expedient and necessary to safeguard the interests of this country. Mr. Henderson was asked whether he had now satisfied himself that there was religious persecutions in Russia and whether any action was being taken by the Government in the matter.

He replied that from a study of the Soviet Government’s attitude respecting religious associations he had no doubt it indicated a continuance of anti-religious pressure which had consistently, and for many years past, been a notorious feature of the Soviet policy. He could not, however, believe any action which it was open to the Government to take would be calculated to further the cause of religious liberty.