§ 49. Mr. HALL-CAINEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which countries which are to be represented at the World Economic Conference are now on the Gold Standard and which are not?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI should hesitate where to draw the dividing line between those countries which are and those which are not on the Gold Standard at the present time. The list of countries in which the currency is not only at gold parity but is also freely convertible into gold or foreign exchange on demand is a very short one, comprising few others than the United States, France, Belgium, Switzerland and the Netherlands, and their several dependencies. Many other countries have kept their exchanges at or close to parity by means of more or less rigorous systems of exchange control.
§ Mr. MAXTONWill the hon. Member be able to give us more precise details before the conference takes place?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI thought the details I had given were precise.
§ Mr. MAXTONPerhaps the circumstances will alter between now and the date of the conference. Will the hon. Member be able to tell us exactly how the matter stands before the conference takes place?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAYes, Sir. At any given moment my answer will always be precise.