§ 49. Mr. ANSTRUTHER-GRAYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement regarding his conversations with M. Litvinov?
§ 50. Sir P. GOFFasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in his present negotiations with the Soviet Commissar for Foreign Affairs he is taking any steps to arrive at a settlement in connection with the Lena Goldfields award?
§ Sir J. SIMONI would refer my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, East (Mr. Mander) yesterday, to which I have at present nothing to add.
§ Mr. ANSTRUTHER-GRAYCan the right hon. Gentleman give the House an assurance that no agreement will be entered into, as a result of these conversations, that does not insist upon the release of the two British prisoners?
§ Sir P. GOFFMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman what offer, if any, has been made with regard to the £13,000,000 award in regard to the Lena Goldfields?
§ Mr. TH0RNECan the right hon. Gentleman tell the House whether the negotiators are friendly, and whether there is a chance of their coming to an agreement?
§ Sir J. SIMONI am happy to say that the discussions have proceeded most amicably. I am not sure that in all cases agreement is promoted by stating the possibilities of it, one way or the other. In reply to the hon. Member who put the first supplementary question, I hope that my answer will be considered sufficient if I say that the position that we take up in this matter has been stated very frankly to the House, and that I hope the House will put some confidence in the Government by leaving the matter to them.