§ 9. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will inform the House as to the date when the latest diplomatic representations were made to the Russian Soviet Government with regard to the robbery of plate and furniture, of the value of over £12,000, from the British Embassy in Petrograd in 1918 by officials of the Soviet Government; what was the nature of such representations; what was the reply made by the Soviet Government; and what further action the British Government propose to take in the matter?
§ The LORD PRIVY SEAL (Mr. Eden)The last written representations on this subject were made on the 21st October, 1931, when a list of articles still missing was presented to the Soviet authorities with an enquiry whether any of them had been identified. Since then further verbal representations in the same sense have frequently been made by His Majesty's Embassy at Moscow, but no answer has been received to any of these representations, and the Soviet Government are being asked for a definite reply.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIn any representation which may be made to Moscow, by representatives of the Government, will this matter be pressed, considering that this was a theft from the British Embassy by officials of the Soviet Government?
§ Mr. THORNECan the Minister give any reason why no action has been taken between 1918 and 1931?