§ 21. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will inform the House as to the result of the further representations which have been made by the British Government to the Soviet authorities with reference to the British Government's demand for a settlement of the arbitral award in favour of Lena Goldfields, Limited, in accordance with the understanding arrived at between representatives of the two Governments prior to the signing of the recent trade agreement?
§ Lieut.-Colonel J. COLVILLE (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)As my hon. Friend is aware, negotiations on this subject have been resumed at Moscow, and are still in progress. In these circumstances it is clearly undesirable to make any further statement at present.
§ Sir W. DAVISONAre the British Government really going to allow this matter to drift on indefinitely, having regard to the fact that, before the Trade Agreement was signed, the House of Commons was given to understand that the matter was in process of settlement?
§ Mr. G. GRIFFITHSIs it not possible to do anything in this matter, now that Waterloo Bridge is being pulled down?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEThe position is that, after a suspension, negotiations were resumed a week or two ago in Moscow, and progress is being made, but I am not yet able to make a statement.