§ Sir H. BRITTAINasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the pre-War indebtedness of the Russian Government to investors in this country amounts to little more than the sum of £180,000,000 sterling, made up as follows: Russian Government guaranteed bonds £149,382,684, Russian Government guaranteed railway bonds £18,701,240, and Russian municipal bonds, not necessarily guaranteed by the Russian Government, £14,958,996, making a total of £183,042,920; and whether, for the purpose of re-establishing confidence with the traders and financiers of this country, he will bear in mind the repayment of this debt when re-entering into negotiations for the establishment of future financial and trade relations?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI have been asked to reply. The figures stated in the first part of the question do not correspond to those of the claims registered with the Russian Claims Department. The Government are fully alive, however, to the importance of the matter to which the hon. Member refers, and I would remind him that the recognition of public debts is among the fundamental conditions of official recognition of Russia and of the development of trade in that country laid down in the Cannes Resolution.