§ 46. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Prime Minister what arrangements have been made to secure that the £100,000 received by the Russian Government for the Codex Sinaiticus, which it has been agreed shall be spent in this country, will be in addition to and exclusive of the ordinary expenditure of the Soviet authorities in Great Britain?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe assurance given to the British Museum authorities could not in the nature of the case be in the form of my hon. Friend's question, but was that the money would not be removed from this country but would be used to finance Russian purchases here. Soviet expenditure here has been decided upon from time to time according to their needs and sterling resources, and this addition of £100,000 to their sterling resources in therefore a means of facilitating the placing of additional orders in this country.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs it not clear from what the Prime Minister has said that there is no security whatever that this money will not be used by the Soviet for ordinary purchases in the ordinary course of their business?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not think that is a necessary conclusion. The Soviet purchases in accordance with their sterling resources, and, if these resources are amplified, their purchases naturally will be greater.
§ Mr. THORNEHas the right hon. Gentleman seen the latest information in the Press that the bible in question is a forgery?
§ Mr. BOOTHBYHas not this £100,000 been taken into consideration in the negotiations for the trade agreement?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI should like notice of that question, but I would remind the House that this understanding was come to earlier—I think certainly in December—and it could not in those circumstances have been taken into consideration.
§ Mr. HANNONWould it not be better to drop these questions, and approve of what the Government have done in relation to the purchase?