§ 36. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can now inform the House as to the attitude of the Soviet representatives on the Anglo-Soviet Joint Committee with regard to the claims of British nationals in respect of cash and property in Russia appropriated without compensation; and, in particular, what reply has been given to the representations made by the British members of subcommittee B who informed the main committee on the 5th May that further progress was impossible in view of the attitude adopted by the Soviet delegates?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Arthur Henderson)I am at present awaiting a report from the British members of the main committee on the position in subcommittee B. I am informed that subcommittee C met on 9th June in order to examine a general memorandum on the British claims. This examination has not yet been completed.
§ Sir W. DAVISONSeeing that this Committee was in session for over eight 20 months, does not the right hon. Gentleman think the House of Commons, on whose authority it was appointed, is entitled to know the attitude of the Russian representatives with regard to the £250,000,000 of British claims?
§ Mr. HENDERSONI am afraid any interim statement would not assist us in the matter. I am pressing an examination of the matter as much as I can.