§ 60. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the result of the discussions between His Majesty's Government and the Government of Albania on the subject of the method of payment of the damages awarded by The Hague Court as the result of the mining by Albania of certain of His Majesty's ships in the Corfu Channel; and what action His Majesty's Government now propose to take.
§ Mr. Ernest DaviesThe discussions have led to no result and are now considered to have concluded. His Majesty's Government are, as a consequence, now considering what course of action is most likely to secure payment of damages by the Albanian Government.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterCan the hon. Gentleman hold out any hope that consideration will merge into action within the next six months?
§ Mr. DaviesYes, Sir. We are proposing to take action when we have decided which action it is best to take.
§ Commander NobleIs the Minister aware that he told the House on a previous occasion that the only point of the talks was to decide how the money should be paid? Can he say what is holding it up now?
§ Mr. DaviesWhat is holding it up is that the Albanians have never accepted the jurisdiction of The Hague Court in the matter of the amount of damages. We had discussions with them with a view to seeing whether they would pay. We have failed to reach agreement, and now we are trying to find out ways in which we can enforce payment.
§ Mr. PickthornCan the Minister tell us how to reconcile his last answer with the repeated assertions, now over months, that all that was under discussion was the method of payment, and can he now tell us what, if any, Albanian assets are within the control of either His Majesty's Government or the United Nations?
§ Mr. DaviesThere are no Albanian assets of which I am aware in the control of the United Kingdom or the United Nations.
§ Mr. PickthornWhat about the first part of my question?
§ Mr. DaviesThe discussions were concerned with the method of payment, but the Albanians did not reach any agreement about making payments which was acceptable to us.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIn view of the ineffective nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter at the earliest opportunity on the Adjournment.