§ 7. Sir William Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the present position with regard to the 815 claims of British nationals against the Russian Soviet Government in respect of cash and property belonging to such nationals which was appropriated by the Soviet authorities without compensation; and whether notice will be given to terminate the existing temporary commercial agreement with a view to its replacement by a formal treaty of trade and navigation?
§ Mr. EdenI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to a similar question asked by him on 25th November last. In that reply I made it clear that it was owing to the fact that it had not been possible to reach a settlement of the claims of British subjects that negotiations for a formal treaty had not yet been attempted. That still remains the position.
§ Sir W. DavisonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of these unfortunate people who have received no compensation have lost all their property and are in a state of dire distress, and that a promise was made that no treaty would be made with Russia until their claims were dealt with, and that this temporary arrangement has gone on for three or four years, and these people are heart-broken?
§ Sir W. DavisonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these people have registered their claims with the Foreign Office? What is the good of registering their claims if the Foreign Office sits still year after year?
§ Mr. EdenIt is not a question of the Foreign Office sitting still, but a question of foreign Governments not paying.
§ Mr. LeachIs this not an illustration of the mistake we made in 1924 in not accepting the Labour party policy?