Commercial Debts

45.

Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations have been made by His Majesty's Government to ensure the fulfilment by the Czechoslovak Government of Article 5 (b) of the Anglo-  Czechoslovakian Agreement dated 1st November, 1945, Command Paper No. 6695.

Mr. Mayhew
Representations have been made to the Czechoslovak Government in this matter, both on behalf of individual British claimants and as regards the application of Czech property taxes to commercial debts. In this latter sphere the representations have had some success.

Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre
As this agreement is concluded and the article to which I have referred the hon. Gentleman is one which guarantees that all our debts shall be honoured in full, can the Minister say what action he has taken to prevent subsequent Czech nationalisation laws interfering with the agreement concluded by His Majesty's Government?

Mr. Mayhew
We are continuing representations on this point, but on the last subject I should need notice.