§ 43. Professor Savoryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what ground the Royal Dutch-Shell group was 1205 compelled to withdraw all its British staff from Roumania; and whether he has made a protest under Article 3 of the Treaty.
§ Mr. BevinThe Royal Dutch-Shell group, following upon Roumanian Government intervention prejudicial to their interests as the majority shareholders in the Astra Romana Company, declared, on 6th March last, that the company was in a state of "forcible dissolution." As a consequence, the British staff of the company were at once withdrawn from Roumania. No protest was made under Article 3 of the Peace Treaty with Roumania, the terms of which do not apply to this particular case.
§ Professor SavoryHas the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been drawn to the statement of the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in another place that the evidence is such as to suggest that this is a deliberate policy of humiliation and indignity?
§ Mr. BevinI quite agree with that, but the Question put to me is whether I have made a protest under Article 3, and this does not apply.
§ Colonel Crosthwaite-EyreCan the Foreign Secretary say what protest has been made against the forcible expropriation of this valuable British asset?
§ Colonel Crosthwaite-EyreCan the Foreign Secretary say whether any protest has been made under any treaty?
§ Mr. Platts-MillsDoes my right hon. Friend regard any process of nationalisation in a foreign country as a process of humiliation and indignity?
§ Mr. BevinI think that when we are dealing with each other's interests there is a standard of decency that ought to be applied. The general understanding in the Peace Treaty was that compensation should be paid and that the company should be treated decently and properly, just as when, the other day, Russian Oil Products—R.O.P.—wanted to dispose of their business in England they were paid 1206 and treated properly. I ask the same treatment for any British interests elsewhere.