§ 40. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can now make a statement as to the use of assets of the former Baltic States now held by the Custodian for the satisfaction of claims by British creditors of those States.
§ Mr. Ernest DaviesNo, Sir. I am afraid that there is nothing I can usefully say on this question at present.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterDoes the Under-Secretary recall that over two years ago the late Foreign Secretary said that this matter was under consideration; and, in view of the fact that His Majesty's Government have, through the Custodian, substantial assets from these States in their control, why cannot those assets be used, at any rate in part satisfaction of these people who have been waiting for many years?
§ Mr. DaviesThe hon. Gentleman will, I think, appreciate that this is a question of great complexity which raises difficult legal and political issues. For instance, we have never given de jure recognition to Russia's annexation of the Baltic States.