§ 7. Mr. William Teelingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make a statement on the recent agreement with Yugoslavia; and, in particular, why he agreed to payments being spread over a period of 10 years.
§ Mr. BevinOn 23rd December last, three Agreements between Yugoslavia and the United Kingdom were signed. One was a Trade Agreement, providing for the exchange of goods between the United Kingdom and Yugoslavia during the year ending 30th September, 1949. Another was an Agreement under which Yugoslavia undertook to pay the sum of £4,500,000 as compensation for the expropriation of British property in Yugoslavia, including the property of British nationals of the Commonwealth countries. The third Agreement related to money and property in Yugoslavia and the United Kingdom which had been subjected to special measures in consequence of the enemy occupation of Yugoslavia.
As regards the second part of the Question, I do not understand the reference to a period of 10 years. Article I of the Compensation Agreement states that the sum of £450,000 shall be paid by Yugoslavia as soon as possible but not later than one year after the signature of the Agreement, and that the terms and conditions of payment of the remaining£4,050,000 shall be agreed between the Contracting Governments during negotiations for a long-term trade agreement which shall be entered into at an early date.
§ Mr. TeelingIn view of the fact that only one-tenth of the sum owed to us is to be repaid within the first year and that the United States, I understand, are getting all their claims paid within a few months, can the right hon. Gentleman tell us why that is so and why we are being put into a worse position; and can he further give us any information regarding other countries, such as Sweden, about which he must have been informed before taking part in these negotiations?
§ Mr. BevinI think that probably it is bound up with the question of sterling holdings and many other complications. The thing was settled for the moment on the basis of£450,000, the remainder to be negotiated later.
§ Mr. TeelingBut surely the right hon. Gentleman is aware that there is a very considerable difference; why are the United States being paid off at once while we are not?
§ Mr. BevinI think the holdings are entirely different and that the United States was in possession of a great gold holding.
§ Mr. TeelingIn order to obtain some more information regarding other countries, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.