HC Deb 15 October 1952 vol 505 c188
30. Mr. Ernest Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement of the action he now proposes to take in regard to the judgment against Albania in the Corfu Channel case; and whether the arbitrator appointed by the International Court to advise on certain claims to gold looted by the Germans from Rome in 1943 has yet reported.

The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Anthony Eden)

I am now awaiting the decision in the arbitration, the arrangements for which were published in White Paper Command 8242. The oral hearings took place in September and it is hoped that the arbitrator will furnish his opinion within the next few weeks.

Mr. Davies

Does the Foreign Secretary recall that just before we rose for the Recess the Minister of State said we were expecting the decision of the arbitrator in August or September? Now we are told that the meeting did not take place until September and that we have still several weeks to wait. Has the right hon. Gentleman convinced the present Financial Secretary to the Treasury that this delay is unavoidable, in view of the attitude which the hon. Gentleman previously took on this matter?

Mr. Eden

I said only that the hearings took place in September. We did not appoint the arbitrator. It was the late Government who appointed the arbitrator, and I do not think we are to blame if he takes a little longer than I should wish. Personally, I would give him a little more time—if he makes the right answer. [Laughter.] But, perhaps, I ought not to say that.

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