§ 11. Colonel ROPNERasked the President of the Board of Trade if he has requested the Government of Russia to refund the extra dock and harbour charges levied on British ships between the expiry of the last trade agreement and the resumption of trade; and, if not, whether he will do so?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe charges in question were part of the counter-measures taken by the Soviet Government against the action of His Majesty's Government in connection with the Moscow arrests. A claim in this respect can only lead to counter claims arising from the same cause and His Majesty's Government, after full consideration, do not think that any useful purpose would be served by the action suggested.
§ 12. Colonel ROPNERasked the President of the Board of Trade the approxi- 1465 mate amount of the visible adverse trade balance against the United Kingdom in respect of trade with Russia during the last five years, and the total value of imports from the United Kingdom to Russia and from Russia to the United Kingdom for 1932; and whether he will insist on the adverse balance being made good as far as possible by shipping services?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANDuring the five years 1928 to 1932 the aggregate value of the imports of merchandise into the United Kingdom consigned from the Soviet Union exceeded that of exports from the United Kingdom consigned to the Soviet Union by £93,772,000. During the; year 1932 the imports of merchandise into the United Kingdom consigned from the Soviet Union amounted to £19,645,000. Exports to the Soviet Union amounted to £10,620,000, including reexports valued at £1,397,000. As regards the last part of the question, the increased use of British shipping services is one of the matters under discussion.