Mr. W. A. JENKINSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take powers to obtain from British banks a statement of moneys advanced by the British Government to Russia for war purposes and now standing to the credit of Russia in British banks, and also of 2047W any money deposited in British hanks by Russian banks which have since been nationalised by the Soviet Government; and will he take steps to prevent any of these funds which are now claimed by the Soviet Government being withdrawn from this country until the Soviet Government has given satisfaction to those British subjects who have been deprived of their property by that Government?
§ Mr. SNOWDENThe Russian Government has undertaken by Article 10 of the Russian Trade Agreement of 16th March, 1921, to make no claim to dispose of the funds of the former Imperial and Provisional Russian Governments in the United Kingdom pending the inclusion in a General Treaty of provisions dealing with this matter. I am not aware of any case in which the Russian Government2048W have claimed money deposited in British banks by Russian banks which were subsequently nationalised. If such cases arise, the question will be considered.