§ 1. Mr. HALL-CAINEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any representations have been made to the Chilean Government since February with regard to the failure to fulfil obligations with regard to the sinking fund and interest payments due to British holders of Chilean Government loans which were floated in London and based on sterling; and what representations, if any, he has received in the matter from the Council of Foreign Bondholders during the same period?
§ 6. Sir CHARLES CAYZERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will intimate to the Chilean Ambassador in London that the default of the Chilean Government on its obligations to British investors who have lent their savings to Chile has inflicted hardship upon them, and that a proposal from the Chilean Government by which a scheme may be set up to terminate the default is overdue?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Eden)Nothing further has occurred since the reply given to my hon. and gallant Friend, the Member for North Portsmouth (Sir B. Falle) on 23rd November last, to justify the belief that representations would at present serve any useful purpose. With regard to the second part of the question put by my hon. Friend, the Member for East Dorset, I understand that the Council of Foreign Bondholders have been in continuous communication with the competent Chilean authorities from the earliest possible moment, and have under immediate con- 350 sideration the formation of a special committee to represent the interests of British holders of Chilean bonds. They, have not as yet made any request for the assistance of my right hon. Friend.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODWhy is it that there is no outcry in this country against the Chilean Government for not meeting their obligations to people who have invested their money there, the same as there is against Russia?
§ Captain PETER MACDONALDIs this not the first time in history that Chile has ever defaulted?
2. Lieut.-Colonel SANDEMAN ALLENasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government acquiesced in the flotation of the Greek 7 per cent. refugee loan, issued under the auspices of the League of Nations; and if he will ascertain from the League of Nations whether the contract to pay interest and sinking fund, under which British subscriptions to the fund were obtained, is being observed.
Lieut.-Colonel SANDEMAN ALLENDoes that mean that, when the League of Nations backs up a loan, the public cannot rely upon their word, and it is valueless?
§ Mr. EDENIf my hon. and gallant Friend will refer to the answer of Monday, he will see exactly what it means.
§ 5. Mr. HALL-CAINEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Chinese salt revenue has exceeded previous totals in the past financial year; and whether he will make representations to the Chinese Government with a view to accelerating the liquidation of arrears of dividends on salt-secured foreign loans, in view of the; fact that such liquidation has recently fallen short of the suggested programme?
§ Mr. EDENI have not received the official statistics for the past financial year, but, so far as my information goes, if liquidation has fallen short of the suggested programme, it has done so only slightly. Such representations as may be necessary or desirable will be made by His Majesty's Minister.