§ 68. Mr. BASIL PETOasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many of the claims for compensation from the Soviet Government for personal injury 521 have been satisfied; whether Mr. Joseph Martin; who was repatriated under the authority of the British Government, has yet received any compensation in response to the representations made by the Foreign Office; and what further steps His Majesty's Government intend to take to obtain satisfaction of these claims?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONSo far as I am aware, only two such claims have been paid. Mr. J. Martin has not yet, so far as I am aware, received any compensation, but his case will be included in the list of all such claims to be brought forward when a suitable opportunity offers.
§ Mr. PETOIs my hon. Friend aware that, in an answer on 23rd July, 1923, an hon. Member was informed that "in the case of compensation for personal injury a settlement is open to negotiation on the lines of the recent correspondence with the Soviet Government? This matter will be proceeded with without delay." I ask whether any steps have been taken to obtain compensation in any of the two or three hundred cases of British subjects who received personal injury from imprisonment by the Soviet Government.
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON; Various efforts have been made, but the Soviet Government have made it clear that they will not consider any of these claims apart from a much wider settlement, and that settlement is to take place on terms which are not acceptable to His Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. PETOAre we to understand that the Government are perfectly powerless to give any protection or obtain any compensation for there terrible injuries?