35. Mr. DOYLEasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government is aware that the British company purchasing Russian oil products had given an undertaking to an international oil committee, set up for the mutual protection of interests, not to prejudice, directly or indirectly, the established rights of adherents to the committee; and 1897 whether the action in purchasing Russian oil products does in fact prejudice these rights?
§ Mr. McNEILLI have no information on the subject of this question beyond what has appeared in the newspapers. It would be no part of the duty of the Foreign Office to interpret the text of a private agreement between a number of oil companies, but if the published accounts of the transaction are accurate, the effect would seem necessarily to be as suggested by my hon. Friend.
§ 39. Sir P. RICHARDSONasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is prepared to take action with the purchasers of Russian oil products to bring about the cancellation of the agreements for sale on the score that such purchases are contrary to public interest?
§ Mr. McNEILLIt would be contrary to the practice of His Majesty's Government to interfere, in a case such as this appears to be, with the discretion of the companies concerned.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs it in order to address questions to the British Government about a private committee in Paris?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI could not see any reason for disallowing them, although they come near to being of a private nature.
§ 40. Sir P. RICHARDSONasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether representations have been made to His Majesty's Government by the French Government protesting against the purchase of Russian oil products by a British company?
§ Mr. McNEILLThe reply is in the negative.
§ 41. Captain ERSKINE-BOLSTasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can communicate the terms of the resolution for mutual protection arrived at between the members of the International Russian Oil Committee, whose property in Russia has been appropriated by the Soviet Government; and what steps have been taken to secure the payment of compensation to British citizens who have been deprived of their property in this way?
§ Mr. McNEILLThe resolution referred to has never been communicated to the Foreign Office. In reply to the last part of the question, I refer the hon. and gallant Member to the published accounts of the Conferences at Genoa and The Hague.