RUSSIA (DEBTS, CLAIMS AND COUNTER-CLAIMS). (Hansard, 27 July 1931)

§ 23. Sir KINGSLEY WOOD
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can now, following his interview with the Soviet Ambassador, make a further statement as to the position of the Committees and Sub-Committees dealing with the question of Russian debt; and whether he proposes to ask them to continue their work?

§ 24. Sir WILLIAM DAVISON
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will inform the House as to the result of his representations to the Soviet Ambassador with regard to the present position of the Anglo-Soviet Debts Committee?

§ 29. Sir ASSHETON POWNALL
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make a statement with regard to his recent interview with the Soviet Ambassador?

§ Mr. DALTON
My right hon. Friend last week had two conversations with the Soviet Ambassador. At the second of these, Lord Goschen and one of the Soviet experts were also present. My right hon. Friend represented to the Ambassador that the state of the negotiations was most unsatisfactory, and urged the necessity for a concrete offer on the part of the Soviet Government. Monsieur Sokolnikov undertook to report these conversations to his Government, and to seek further instructions. My right hon. Friend hopes, after his return from Berlin, to have a further conversation with the Soviet Ambassador.

§ Sir K. WOOD
Was there no suggestion with the Societ Ambassador that there should be some time limit in this matter, which has now been going on for two years?

§ Mr. DALTON
No, Sir. I do not think my right hon. Friend considered that that would be an effective way of handling the matter.

§ Sir K. WOOD
Has the right hon. Gentleman any experience whatever of handling matters?

§ Sir W. DAVISON
In view of the fact that the prompt settlement of claims and debts was one of the conditions of the resumption of diplomatie relations, in accordance with the Protocol of October, 1929, and as two years have elapsed, does not the hon. Member consider that the Russian Government should be asked to come to close quarters with this matter?

§ Mr. DALTON
The word "prompt" is not found in the Protocol, and, in view of the long delays under the previous Government it would have been unnatural to put it in. But my right hon. Friend has on many occasions represented to the Soviet Ambassador the desirability of making some concrete proposals, as I have stated in my reply.