HC Deb 24 November 1919 vol 121 c1416
11. Mr. MANVILLE

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, after the War commenced, when Austrian debtors offered to pay their debts to British creditors, the British Government refused to allow British creditors to receive such payments, notwithstanding the fact that any moneys so received could have been retained by the Government for the benefit of British creditors generally?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Chamberlain)

I believe that permission to accept conditional payment by an Austrian debtor to individual British creditors was refused because it was illegal. In any ease, payments so made could not have been made available for British creditors generally.