asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has received any information to the effect that persons visiting the British Legation in Moscow are interfered with, and in many cases arrested, by the Soviet authorities?

Major-General SEELY:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, at any time during the present year, the British agent in Moscow formally protested to the Soviet Government against the espionage exercised over visitors to the British Legation, resulting in the arrest of certain of such visitors and, in some cases, their banishment?

Information has been received that on two occasions, in April and May of the present year, Soviet citizens visiting the British Mission M Moscow were subsequently arrested and interrogated by the Soviet authorities. Informal representations on the subject were made both here and in Moscow. In his last despatches Mr. Hodgson reports that he has now no cause to complain, and that, so far as he is aware, no incidents connected with the British Mission have occurred of a nature to justify criticism.

Major-General SEELY:

May I ask the Under-Secretary why it was that he told us last week that no such reports had been received?

If the right hon. Gentleman will refer to my replies to him last week, he will see that they were absolutely correct.

Major-General SEELY:

No. The question which I asked was identical with this, and I pressed the Under-Secretary to say whether any reports had been received, and he said no such reports had been received. Has he received them since the question was put?

If the right hon. Gentleman will refer to his last question, he will see that it was not identical.

Can the hon. Gentleman say the date on which the reports were received?

If the hon. Member will put a question down, I will give him a date.