§ 75. Sir W. Teelingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is now the position of the Baltic creditors after the agreement with the Union of 204W Soviet Socialist Republics; when it will be finally signed; who else will be included besides the Baltic asset claimants and whether the remaining gold and other assets will all be eventually divided between the British claimants who have already been registered, or what other arrangements Her Majesty's Government propose to make; and when the whole process will be completed.
§ Mr. William RodgersThe agreement with the Soviet Government announced on 13th February has the effect of leaving assets in this country available for a distribution against claims by United Kingdom nationals. The agreement referred to all the post-1939 claims and counterclaims which have, since 1959, been the subject of discussion between our two Governments. As the hon. Gentleman knows, these include on our side, besides the several kinds of Baltic claims, claims arising from the cession of territory to the Soviet Union by Finland, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Rumania, and the question of the Lena and Tetiuhe Union of Soviet Socialist Republics State Notes. Arrangements for the distribution of the assets to the claimants, including the Baltic creditors, will be completed as soon as possible. I cannot forecast how long the whole process will take, but I can assure the hon. Gentleman that I am as anxious as he is that the claimants should receive payment quickly.—[Vol. 741, c.110.]