Mr. MACLEANasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the total amount of the loans made by British investors to States and cities in the United States which have been repudiated; whether any further effort has been made by the British Government to have these loans repaid; and whether he will now reconsider the decision previously arrived at and make representations to the United States Government to secure the repayment of those loans and the unpaid interest which is outstanding?
§ Captain EDENI would refer the hon. Member to the annual report of the Council of Foreign Bondholders, which gives such information as is available as to the total amount of loans outstanding. His Majesty's Government have not addressed, and do not at the present time propose to address, representations to the United States Government on the subject of these debts, since it is not considered that any useful purpose would be served thereby.