§ 48. Mr. KINGasked the Prime Minister when he will give to the House the opportunity to discuss the Anglo-French Loan issued in America; and in what form he proposes to ask the approval of the House for this financial transaction?
§ The PRIME MINISTERTo-day.
§ Mr. KINGWill there be any possibility of a proper discussion if the Bill is passed through all its stages without the text being distributed to Members?
§ Mr. McKENNAIf the House will give me leave to introduce the Bill hon. Members will immediately afterwards find it in the Vote Office.
§ Mr. PENNEFATHERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the leading London bankers have been consulted as to the terms and conditions upon which the American Loan has been negotiated?
§ Mr. McKENNAAs soon as it was decided to send a Commission to the United States in connection with the question of American Exchange, I asked the banks to nominate a banker with full power to represent their views on the Commission. Sir Edward Holden, Chairman of the London City and Midland Bank, was duly nominated and, as the House is aware, he has acted as a member of the Commission in America.
§ Mr. G. TERRELLWas Sir Edward Holden the only representative of the London bankers on this Commission?
§ Mr. McKENNAHe was the only representative of the London bankers. There was another gentleman who was also associated with banking business, but who could not be described as a representative of the London bankers. I should have been very happy to have had more than one representative of the London bankers on the Commission if they had so wished, but they themselves limited their number to one.
§ Sir FRANCIS LOWEDid Sir Edward Holden go with the Commissioners and take an active part in the negotiations?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes. He took an active part throughout.