§ 11. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will inform the House as to the plan which the Government have in mind for securing compensation in respect of the money and property of British nationals appropriated by the Soviet Government, as it has been decided that the establishment of a compensation fund by means of import duties on Russian goods and products sold in the British market is not a suitable method?
§ Mr. EDENI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 7th April last to my hon. Friend the Member for North Aberdeen (Mr. Burnett).
§ Sir W. DAVISONAm Ito understand that the Government have turned down the practical, workable proposal that I made to the Foreign Secretary when they have no alternative proposal of their own to compensate these tens of thousands of British citizens who have been robbed of their property? Do the Government propose to do nothing in the matter?
§ Mr. EDENWe are very grateful to my hon. Friend for his suggestion. It is only because it is neither practical nor workable that it has been turned down. My hon. Friend must not, however, think that the Government propose to leave the matter indefinitely without taking any action. We have the matter continually before us, but, where unilateral action alone is possible, the task is not an easy one.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs my hon. Friend aware that, under the original trade agreement, the Soviet Government themselves admitted that they were liable to pay compensation to British nationals whose property they have taken? Does he not think that there has been quite enough delay and that action ought to be taken at once?
§ Mr. EDENI do not think the situation satisfactory any more than my hon. Friend does. The only difference between us is as to the steps that should be taken.