§ 1. Mr. Blakerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now make a statement about the negotiations with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for the settlement of mutual property claims.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. William Rodgers)The Anglo-Soviet Agreement concerning the settlement of mutual financial and property claims was signed on 5th January.
§ Mr. BlakerIs the Minister aware that an agreement on this difficult subject will be generally welcomed, if it is a satisfactory one? In this connection, will he say why the Government have agreed to pay over to the Soviet Government half a million pounds from assets in this country which otherwise would 2 have been available to meet the claims of British claimants?
§ Mr. RodgersThis was a very difficult issue, but, by common consent, it was desirable to find a settlement in circumstances where many claimants had been waiting as long as 28 years. As I told the House on 17th January, the money was not paid over until the 12th of the month, after the agreement had been signed.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonWith regard to the gold entrusted by the Governments of the Baltic States to Britain, since no British Government have recognised de jure the incorporation of the Baltic States in the U.S.S.R., can we have an assurance that, in the event of self-determination, restitution of the amounts will be made to the independent Governments of the Baltic States?
§ Mr. RodgersI do not think that I could give such an undertaking. This is a practical agreement which recognises the realities, although its terms make no difference to the Government's policy of withholding recognition de jure of the incorporation of the Baltic States in the Soviet Union.