§ 8. Sir KINGSLEY WOODasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has yet urged upon the Soviet Ambassador the rights of British claimants upon the Soviet Government and pressed for a recognition and settlement of the debts due to them?
§ Mr. DALTONYes, Sir; and the object of the negotiations now proceeding is to agree upon a suitable machinery for the consideration of these claims.
§ Sir K. WOODWill the right hon. Gentleman be in a position to make a statement on the matter before we adjourn for Easter?
§ Mr. DALTONMy right hon. Friend replied a few days ago to a question on that subject. My right hon. Friend is hopeful that he may be able to make a statement when the present stage of the negotiations has been completed.
§ 11. Captain CAZALETasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will consider taking any steps to assist those British creditors who, as a result of the Soviet confiscation and repudiation of their property, have no means of subsistence pending the settlement of their claims?
§ Mr. DALTONAs the hon. and gallant Member is no doubt aware, His Majesty's Government have no funds available for assisting the particular British claimants to whom he refers. But they will naturally bear hard cases in mind in the course of negotiations with the Soviet Government.
§ Captain CAZALETIs the hon. Gentleman aware that many of these creditors are extremely poor and suffering, that they are without any means, and will he bear that fact in mind in any negotiations?
§ 65. Captain CAZALETasked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the fact that it is 11 years since the Soviet decrees of repudiation and confiscation of property belonging to British subjects were enforced, whether the Foreign Office have taken any steps to keep the claims of British citizens now lodged with the Foreign Office up to date?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. W. R. Smith)Claims against Russia, including those formerly lodged with the Foreign Claims Branch of the Foreign Office, are registered with the Russian Claims Department of the Board of Trade. The register of the Department has remained open for any revision of claims by the claimants that may be required.
§ Captain CAZALETIn view of the settlement of some of these claims in the near future, has anything been done to keep these claims up-to-date?
§ Mr. SMITHSo far as the Department is concerned, the register has been kept, and nothing more can be done.
§ Mr. WISEIs it not a fact that none of the claims have been verified or examined by the Department?
§ 2. Mr. GILLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will consider the question of circulating full details of the claims made against the Russian Government by or through his Department in respect of outstanding debts and other matters?
§ Mr. DALTONNo, Sir. There are some 50,000 claims by 35,000 British claimants registered at the Board of Trade, and this alone would render the course suggested by my hon. Friend impracticable.
§ Mr. GILLCan the hon. Gentleman agree, if not to give the details, to give the total amount of the claims?
§ Mr. DALTONPerhaps my hon. Friend will put down a question.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYHas the hon. Member put in a claim with regard to the plate that disappeared from the Embassy? Surely this is one of the claims to be put forward.
§ Mr. DALTONThat question has been dealt with by my right hon. Friend on several occasions, and I have nothing to add to what he has said.
Lieut. - Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLIs any claim being made for the £9,900 paid by the Foreign Office to a Russian subject instead of £100? Is there anything doing that way?