CO129-628-12 War Damage Compensation- USSR claims 1-1-1950 - 31-5-1950 — Page 27

(NS 091/4)

RESTRICTE

FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1.

11th February, 1950.

25

Dear Mitchell,

I enclose a copy of a Note from the Soviet Enbassy, reiterating their claim for compensation in respect of the ships 'Simferopol' and 'Svirstroi'.

In our Note of the 24th August, 1948, to the Soviet Ambassador, it was stated that the British War Risks Insurance Office could not pay this compensation unless further evidence of the

circumstances of the seizure of the two ships by the Japanese authorities could be produced. Since then the only correspondence on this point which we have seen is a letter from Constant and Constant to your Department, dated the 28th September, 1948, in which it is argued that we cannot properly demand further evidence.

I understood from our telephone conversation the other day that there has in fact been correspondence since then between yourselves and Constant and Constant. I should be grateful if you would bring

W. A. Mitchell, Esq.,

Ship Management and Contracts Division,

Ministry of Transport.

/me