HC Deb 22 July 1931 vol 255 cc1466-8
2. Sir KINGSLEY WOOD

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has now any further information concerning the work of the committees and sub-committees dealing with the question of Russian debts; and if they will finish their work before the summer Recess?

4. Sir WILLIAM DAVISON

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government are now able to make a statement as to the present position of the Anglo-Soviet Debt Committee, especially as regards the position of Sub-Committee B?

Mr. DALTON

Lord Goschen has reported the present state of these negotiations to my right hon. Friend, who is greatly disappointed to find that so little progress has been made. The Soviet delegates do not yet appear to have submitted any proposals for a settlement, or even to have indicated what categories and types of claims they are prepared to allow as ranking for settlement, and on what conditions. The work has, therefore, not yet progressed beyond the stage of the exchange of information and explanations. My right hon. Friend has informed Lord Goschen that he proposes to take an early opportunity to represent to the Soviet Ambasasdor the necessity of putting forward practical proposals if the negotiations are to be brought to a successful conclusion. He hopes to see the Ambassador to-morrow.

Sir K. WOOD

Does the Foreign Secretary propose to put a time limit on the negotiations, after all these months of wasted time?

Sir W. DAVISON

When the right hon. Gentleman sees the Ambassador, will he point out that, after this Committee has been appointed nine months, Sub-Committee A, dealing with £180,000,000 of British claims, has not met once, while Sub-Committee B has not met for two months, owing to the attitude of the Soviet?

Mr. MARJORIBANKS

In the meantime, are we going to guarantee their purchases?

Mr. DALTON

The last supplementary question is entirely irrelevant. In reply to the supplementary question of the hon. Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison), with regard to the sub-committees and their failure to meet, I have not the least doubt that my right hon. Friend, when he sees the Ambassador to-morrow, will speak to him very frankly on the subject.

Sir K. WOOD

Will the hon. Gentleman kindly reply to my supplementary question, as to a time limit?

Mr. MARJORIBANKS

Is the hon. Gentleman in favour of throwing good money after bad, or why does he say that my question is irrelevant?