§ 19. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the question of compensation for the confiscation by the Russian Soviet Government of private property in Russia will be brought up at the World Economic Conference?
§ Sir J. SIMONNo, Sir. The question is not one within the scope of the Conference.
§ Sir W. DAVISONDoes not my right hon. Friend think it is very important that the representatives of the different nations should consider this matter; and, in view of the fact that one important matter in connection with our foreign trade is the resumption of trade with Russia, may I ask how trade can be resumed with Russia as long as this question of the confiscation of the property of foreign nationals is not settled?
§ Sir J. SIMONThis question has to do with the question of compensation, which means, I suppose, measuring in money what is to be given to someone who has suffered. That does not seem to me to fall within the programme of the World Economic Conference. That Conference will be concerned with general monetary and economic questions, and not with questions of particular persons or particular companies in a particular State.
§ Sir W. DAVISONDoes my right hon. Friend realise that my question refers, not to the amount of compensation, but to the recognition by Russia that property belonging to foreign nationals has been confiscated?
§ Sir J. SIMONI can assure my hon. Friend that these matters will be borne 1534 in mind, but I thought it only right to indicate that I rather doubted whether the World Economic Conference could deal with them.
§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESIn bEarlng these questions in mind, will the right hon. Gentleman also bear in mind the old debt of the South American States to this country?