HC Deb 04 August 1922 vol 157 cc1918-9W
Mr. R. DAVIES

asked the Prime Minister what is the value of the gold, if any, now in Great Britain deposited by previous Russian Governments; and is His Majesty's Government now prepared to hand any such gold over to the Soviet Government without further delay?

Mr. YOUNG

No gold is in this country, deposited by previous Russian Governments, so far as I know. The second part of the question, therefore, does not arise.

Mr. DAVIES

asked the Prime Minister, in view of the fact that the non-Russian Powers represented at The Hague brought the Conference to a close without waiting for a reply to the formula which the Russian delegates offered to transmit to their Government, and which was described by the British representatives as a great advance on the previous attitude of the former, whether the British representatives officially requested the Russian delegates to transmit Moscow's reply direct to His Majesty's Government, or whether His Majesty's Government has in any other way officially requested a reply to the formula from the Russian Government?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

The resolution passed by the non-Russian Commission, given in paragraph 7 of their Report—Command Paper 1724—was based on the assumption that the proposals formulated by the Russian Delegation at The Hague would be accepted by the Russian Government. It is assumed that due consideration will be given to these proposals by the Russian Government and that they will communicate their reply to His Majesty's Government through the usual channels.