§ 2. Mr. RILEYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the House the approximate proportion of the sum total raised by the Russian Government from British nationals before the War for railway construction and other public utility loans in general, which was expended in Finland, Esthonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Bessarabia; and whether any approaches have been made to the Governments or municipal authorities of Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Roumania to secure a return of the capital so expended?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINIn the case of Finland, which was an autonomous State within the Russian Empire, the loans in question were raised, not by the Russian, but by the Finnish Government, who have never repudiated their responsibility. The territories now occupied by the other countries mentioned formed an integral part of Russia. It is, therefore, impossible to ascertain what proportion of the loans raised by the Russian Government for the construction of railways, roads, telegraphs, etc., was devoted to these particular territories. In these circumstances, the latter part of the question does not arise.
§ Mr. RILEYMay I ask if any correspondence has taken place between His Majesty's Government and the Governments mentioned in the Question with regard to the construction carried out by means on Brtish capital?
§ Mr. TAYLORCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Government of Finland has paid the interest on these loans?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI must have notice of both those questions.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODMay I ask the Foreign Secretary whether it would not be possible to communicate with the Russian Government and find out from them the proportions of these loans spent in these States, so that we may have a chance of recovering some of the money which is due?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI think the Russian Government should deal with their own debts first.
§ Mr. RILEYHas any correspondence taken place between His Majesty's Government and the Governments of these States?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI must ask the hon. Member to give me notice of that question. If he will do so, I shall be very glad to give him an answer, but I cannot pretend to carry in my head a list of the correspondence that takes place between His Majesty's Government and other Governments.