§ 35. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that over two and a-half years have now elapsed since the resumption of diplomatic relations with the Russian Soviet Government; and, seeing that the settlement of the debts due to British nationals was one of the conditions of that resumption and that the Soviet Government have now declined to make any proposals or even to define their attitude in the matter, whether he will inform the House as to the action which His Majesty's Government propose to take as the result of the consideration they have been giving to the situation which has now arisen?
§ Mr. EDENI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend, the Member for North Aberdeen (Mr. Burnett) on the 7th of April last. 818 As regards the second part of the question, the circumstances of the discontinuation of the negotiations, and the attitude of the Soviet Government, were clearly set forth in the note to the Soviet Ambassador, which was circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT in reply to my hon. Friend's question on the 2nd of February.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs it realised by the Government that a Government which delayed taking action month after month on a matter in which its nationals are seriously concerned is seriously damaged in its prestige and credit both at home and abroad, and does he not think that it is about time some overt action was taken in the matter?
§ Mr. EDENIf my hon. Friend will be good enough to consult the note to which I have referred him, I think he will find that the point of view of His Majesty's Government is very fully and frankly stated.
§ Sir NICHOLAS GRATTAN-DOYLEIs it not perfectly obvious that the Soviet Government have no intention whatever of carrying out their honourable obligations, and what action does the Government propose to take?
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSMay I ask you, Mr. Speaker, if the question put by the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne North (Sir N. Grattan-Doyle) reflecting on a friendly State is in order?