§ 70. Sir W. Teelingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why, in view of previous statements that the Rumanian debts were to be settled in 1966 and of his discussion on this with the Rumanian Foreign Secretary in New York, these negotiations have now broken down; to what extent the oil companies' claims and refusal to allow Rumanian oil to be sold in this country have affected the result; and whether the Hungarian debt talks will still continue under the circumstances.
§ Mrs. WhiteThe Financial Agreement of November, 1960, signed by ourselves and the Rumanians provides that both Governments shall enter into negotiations in the course of 1966 for the settlement of all outstanding claims. These are complicated questions which are bound to require time. There is no question of a breakdown of the negotiations.
I do not accept that Her Majesty's Government's policy towards Rumanian oil has adversely affected the negotiations on the outstanding claims, a major part of which is in respect of British oil interests.
There is no link between these negotiations and the discussions on the Hungarian bonded debt, which are also continuing.