HC Deb 19 October 1949 vol 468 cc533-4
15. Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether payment has yet been received from Albania as the result of the decision of The Hague Court in the case of His Majesty's ships mined by Albanian action in the Corfu Channel; and what action he is taking in the matter.

17. Mr. Thomas Reid

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he is taking to secure damages or reparations from the Government of Albania for the mining of British ships in the Corfu Channel.

25. Mr. Pickthorn

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has a statement to make about His Majesty's Government's complaint against the Albanian Government in the matter of the mined warships.

Mr. Bevin

No payment has been received, since the amount of compensation payable has not been finally fixed. The International Court of Justice by an order of 9th April, 1949, reserved for further consideration the assessment of this amount and invited, in writing, observations by the two parties. The Albanian Government in the written observations which it filed expressed the view that the Court had no jurisdiction to fix the amount of damages, although the Court had already decided that it had jurisdiction to do so. The Court have now fixed an oral hearing at The Hague on 17th November.

His Majesty's Government have followed and continue to follow the procedure prescribed by the International Court and will, of course, abide by the Court's decision, which is expected towards the end of this year.

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