HC Deb 23 November 1931 vol 260 cc14-5
16. Mr. SMITHERS

asked 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. EDEN

I 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. SMITHERS

Is 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. EDEN

I have told my hon. Friend that we have made this representation; we must at least give an opportunity for an answer.

Sir WILLIAM DAVISON

May I repeat the question which I asked last Monday—when is it likely that an answer will be received?

Mr. EDEN

If 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.

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