§ 14. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the question of the confiscation of private cash balances of British citizens in Russian banks by the Soviet Government has yet been considered by the Anglo-Soviet Joint Committee; and if 1164 he will inform the House what is the attitude of the Soviet representatives on this matter?
§ Mr. DALTONThis category of claims falls within the scope of Sub-Committee C. This Sub-Committee has so far held only one meeting, as it was found necessary to refer certain questions for legal opinion, which has only just been received. The attitude of the Soviet representatives towards the various categories of claims with which the Sub-Committee deals has not yet been defined.
§ Sir W. DAVISONAs this is a matter of private cash balances which affect many poor people—one of them in my constituency for quite a small sum—does the Under-Secretary not think that the Government, in a matter quite without precedent in circumstances of this kind, should take action, or make some statement on the matter?
§ Mr. DALTONThe chief reason for the delay, I regret to say, is the illness of the Treasury Solicitor who had been asked for a legal opinion. He has now recovered in health and has furnished the legal opinion, and I hope we may be able to proceed.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIt is over eight months now.