56. Sir F. HALLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that in 1918 Mr. Woodhouse, the consul in charge of the British Embassy at Petrograd, in order to obtain the necessary money to discharge his duties, arranged with Mr. C. H. Bucknall, a British subject and a dealer in precious stones in Petrograd, to place certain property at his disposal; if he will state approximately the value of the property so deposited; whether any receipt was given therefor; and if he will state whether the jewels so handed over for the purposes of His Majesty's service were either returned or their value paid over to Mr. Bucknall?
Mr. A. HENDERSONI understand that the case to which the hon. and gallant Member refers, and which recently formed the subject of an action in the High Court, will be the subject of proceedings in the Court of Appeal. In the circumstances it would not be proper for me to make any statement.