§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Lord Privy Seal what steps have been taken during the past 12 months to try to establish diplomatic relations with Albania.
§ Mr. BlakerLast year we formally proposed to the Albanian Government that diplomatic relations should be restored without waiting for a resolution of the financial problems which had previously stood in the way. Regrettably the Albanians have not agreed, but the offer remains open and we remain ready for talks without preconditions.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Lord Privy Seal what steps have been taken during the past 12 months by the United Kingdom in her capacity as an international trustee member of the tripartite Commission for the Restitution of Monetary Gold established at the end of the last war to secure the return of Albanian gold.
§ Mr. BlakerWe have had discussions on this problem with the other governments represented in the tripartite commission. There are still several problems which must be settled before the three member Governments can instruct the commission to deliver to Albania its share of the gold recovered after the last war.