§ Mr. Asshetonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the Government of the U.S.S.R. has been in default since November, 1940, on the non-interest bearing State notes issued in 1935 to the Lena Goldfields, Limited, as well as on its payments to the Tetiuhe Mining Corporation, Limited; whether the U.S.S.R. is still meeting its obligations in the U.S.A. in the parallel case of the Harriman Manganese Concession; and, if so, whether he will explain the discrimination against the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. BevinI am aware of this interruption of payments. I understand that the Soviet Government continued to meet its obligations in the United States of America in the case of the Harriman Manganese Concession until payments were completed in 1943. His Majesty's Government have repeatedly protested against this discrimination, but have not received any satisfactory explanation of it from the Soviet authorities.