§ 2. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will inform the House as to the result of the recent negotiations at Moscow undertaken at the request of the British Government between a representative of Lena Goldfields, Limited, and the Russian Soviet Government, with a view to arriving at a settlement with regard to the arbitral award of £13,000,000 in favour of the company?
§ Lieut.-Colonel J. COLVILLE (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)Up to the present time the proposals made from the Soviet side have been unacceptable. While the company were prepared to make a large reduction in their demands, the 548 Soviet negotiators were prepared only to make a small advance on their former offers. The position is now under consideration.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the managing director of the company spent some eight weeks in Moscow and, when he arrived there, although he went at the suggestion of the British Government, he was told that he must make representations as the Soviet Government had no representations to make? Are the Government going to allow this matter to drift on indefinitely without any proposals for a settlement from the Soviet Government?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEThe attitude of the Soviet Committee has not been helpful, but the matter is under consideration.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs my hon. and gallant Friend aware that not only have the Soviet Government appropriated the large capital belonging to the company, but they are now making an income of some £500,000 a year out of the company's mines?