§ 27. Mr. SMITHERSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any settlement has been reached with regard to Soviet debts, in view of the declared policy of His Majesty's Government that negotiations for a trade treaty and settlement of debts and claims will proceed concurrently; and is it now the policy of the Government to make the ratification of a full-trade treaty conditional on a simultaneous settlement of debts and claims?
Mr. A. HENDERSONAs regards the first part of the question, agreement has now been reached with the Soviet Government for the establishment of a joint committee of experts and a number of sub-committees for the purpose of examining the bases of settlement of the questions outlined in paragraph 1 (3) of the Protocol of 3rd October. As regards the second part of the question, I have nothing to add to my reply to the supplementary question put by the hon. Member on Wednesday last.
§ Mr. SMITHERSDoes not the right hon. Gentleman realise that, if he signs a trade agreement with the Soviet Government, he will have no weapon for negotiation for the settlement of debt?