HC Deb 01 May 1951 vol 487 cc122-3W
64. Mr. Teeling

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the value of Hungarian assets held in this country; what other amounts there are available, which His Majesty's Government could use in negotiations for the repatriation of Mr. Edgar Sanders and the payment of the claims of British holders of Hungarian bonds and loans; and if he will now consider implementing Article 29 of the Peace Treaty between this country and Hungary.

Mr. Gaitskell

Hungarian assets at present held by the Custodian of Enemy Property and the Administrator of Hungarian Property and not subject to litigation are worth about £850,000. The Government intend to give effect to paragraph 1 of Article 29 of the Peace Treaty as soon as the necessary administrative arrangements can be made, but the sum which will be available for distribution cannot be reliably estimated at this stage. I know of no other Hungarian assets in the United Kingdom which could be brought into any negotiations regarding the release of Mr. Sanders or the payment of bondholders' claims.