§ MR. WEIRTo ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he will consider the expediency of appointing a Select Committee of the House of Commons to consider the claims made by British banks in South Africa in respect of gold commandeered by the Government of the late South African Republic.
(Answered by Mr. A. J. Balfour.) I am advised that this claim has been dealt with in accordance with certain general principles which have been applied to all such cases. The reasons have been fully set out in correspondence, and the view of the Government is that such a Committee as the hon. Member proposes should not be appointed.