HC Deb 10 June 1953 vol 516 c196
8. Mr. Ernest Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the gold looted by the Germans and found by the Arbitrator to be the property of the National Bank of Albania, has yet been handed over to the United Kingdom in partial settlement of the compensation awarded to Her Majesty's Government in connection with the Corfu Channel incident.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

No, Sir. As I told the hon. Gentleman on 15th April, the Arbitrator's award was pronounced on 20th February. While no communication has been received from the Albanian Government, the Italian Government have appealed to the International Court of Justice against the Arbitrator's decision.

Mr. Davies

Would the Minister confirm that the position now is that this gold was awarded to Albania by the Arbitrator, that it was going to be set off against our claim for compensation arising from the Corfu Channel case, that an appeal has now taken place to the International Court and that if the gold remains with Albania it will come to us in compensation?

Mr. Lloyd

My understanding of the situation is the same as the hon. Gentleman's.