§ 16. Mr. SMITHERSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will arrange to conclude the work of the Committee on Anglo-Soviet Debts before the end of next June in order that the position with regard to these debts may be cleared up before the conclusion of the one-year Hoover moratorium?
§ Mr. EDENI regret that, pending the receipt of the communication from the Soviet Government to which I referred on the 16th of November, I am unable to forecast the future course of the negotiations.
§ Mr. SMITHERSIs it not apparent to the Government that the Soviet has no intention whatever of settling, and how long are the Government going to allow this farce to continue?
§ Mr. EDENI have told my hon. Friend that we have made this representation; we must at least give an opportunity for an answer.
§ Sir WILLIAM DAVISONMay I repeat the question which I asked last Monday—when is it likely that an answer will be received?
§ Mr. EDENIf the hon. Gentleman will put a question down for next Monday, the Foreign Secretary will, I hope, be here, and he may be in a position to answer it.