§ 6. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the approximate value of the property of British subjects in Russia which was confiscated by the Russian Soviet Government and in respect of which no compensation has been paid; whether he is aware that the property of British nationals confiscated as above is being marketed in Great Britain under the trade agreement; and what action the Government propose to take in the matter?
§ 48. Major-General Sir ALFRED KNOXasked the Prime Minister if he will consider the desirability of amending the Anglo-Soviet trade agreement of 1921, to make it impossible for products derived from confiscated British properties to be brought into this country?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Sir Burton Chadwick)I have been asked to reply. I regret that a separate figure cannot be given for amounts claimed by British subjects in respect of moveable property confiscated in Russia. As regards the 1342 other matters referred to in the questions, I would refer my hon. Friends to the answers given by the President of the Board of Trade yesterday to the hon. Members for Barnstaple (Mr. B. Peto) and Dulwich (Sir F. Hall), copies of which I am sending them.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the answers to which he refers me were that there are two parties to the Agreement, and negotiations would have to take place; and is he aware that the Foreign Secretary informed the House, when we last met, that the Trade Agreement had been broken? In view of the serious losses of British subjects by reason of the Trade Agreement, will the Government take into consideration the propriety of terminating it?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKThat is the question which my right hon. Friend clearly answered yesterday, to the effect that he could not do so without the consent of the other party.
§ Sir W. DAVISONBut the other party, as stated by the Foreign Secretary when we met last, have broken their terms of the Agreement.