§ Mr. Gwynfor Evansasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what recent negotiations he has had with Mr. Kosygin about the assets of the former Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian Governments.
§ Mr. George ThomsonNone. The joint statement signed by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and Mr. Kosygin and issued on the latter's departure from this country on 13th February reflectedinter alia the agreement of the Soviet Government not to pursue its claims to former Baltic assets held in the United Kingdom. Subsequent discussion has related only to the formulation of this agreement.
§ Mr. Gwynfor Evansasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the British Government now recognises de jure the incorporation of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia into the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
§ Mr. George ThomsonI have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Tiverton, on 20th February, 1967.—[Vol. 741, c.204–5.]
§ Mr. Gwynfor Evansasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the British Government now recognises de jure the confiscatory decrees of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics promulgated after the invasion and occupation in 1940 of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
§ Mr. George ThomsonThe question of recognitionde jure does not arise with regard to foreign decrees or laws.
§ Mr. Gwynfor Evansasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he 264W will take steps to safeguard the title of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia to the gold deposited by those States in the Bank of England as support for their respective currencies, pending the reestablishment of independent States in those countries.
§ Mr. George ThomsonNo; the gold deposited by the former Central Banks of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia became subject to the Trading with the Enemy Legislation in 1941 and was subsequently vested in the Custodian of Enemy Property.