§ 7. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the definite reply for which the Russian Soviet Government were asked by the British Government in March last with regard to the plate and furniture stolen from the British embassy in Petrograd in 1918 by officials of the Soviet Government has now been received; and what is the nature of such reply?
§ Mr. EDENHis Majesty's Ambassador at Moscow was instructed on 25th March last to press for a definite statement from the Soviet Government showing whether or not the missing property had been traced. I have not yet learnt the result of these representations.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs it not very discourteous to His Majesty's Government to allow an important matter like this to remain two months without a reply; and do not the Government think that it is full time that the property taken from His Majesty's Government, including the valuable property in the safes at the embassy, was restored, seeing that it was taken by Soviet officials?
§ Mr. EDENWe certainly consider the matter important or we should not have made representations at all. Perhaps my hon. Friend and I have not quite the same standard of relative importance.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs it not possible that the Russian Government are making a thorough search among White Russians?
§ Mr. THORNEWas any objection taken in 1918 in regard to this matter?
§ Mr. THORNEOf course there was not.
§ Sir W. DAVISONWill a further request for a reply be made?