82. Commander WILLIAMSasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, if he will state what was the total value of British Government furniture, plate, effects, etc., lost in Petrograd and Moscow claimed by the Mission sent to Russia?
§ Captain HACKINGThe value of the Government furniture left in Petrograd when the British Mission evacuated the building was assessed at £10,000. The plate, valued at £18,000, has not been recovered. There was, in addition, property of Government officials and other Departments of which my Department has no complete record. No Government property existed at Moscow. Government furniture to the value of 35 approximately £8,500 was recovered recently in addition to property which had belonged to Embassy officials and other Government Departments.
§ Captain HACKINGWe hope to get some more.
§ Commander O. LOCKER-LAMPSONWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman ask for some more soon?
§ Captain HACKINGWe have not by any means given up hope of getting some more.
§ 94. Commander LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Soviet Government has handed over to representatives of the British Government the contents of the British Embassy in Petrograd; whether the official furniture and effects were handed over intact; whether the valuables and effects of British citizens deposited in the Embassy for safe custody of the British Ambassador were handed back intact by the Soviet Government; and what is the value of the private effects returned by the Soviet Government?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Godfrey Locker-Lampson)The Soviet Government have handed over to representatives of His Majesty's Government the articles contained in the former British Embassy at the time of the arrival of these representatives in Leningrad. The answers to the second and third parts of the question are in the negative. I regret that I have not sufficient information to reply to the fourth part of the question.
§ Commander LOCKER-LAMPSONDo I understand that something is still due to us under one or other of these headings?
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONYes, I un-understand that there is a great deal due.
§ Commander LOCKER-LAMPSONMay I ask the hon. Gentleman to try to get us some more in the near future.
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONAt the present moment inquiries are proceeding.
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONIt is very difficult to say, but one of the things missing is a very large service of gold plate.