§ 43. Viscount CURZONasked the Prime Minister whether the British High Com- 1884 missioner for Austria has reported that unless speedy assistance is given to Austria the day is not far distant when the whole of the Republics from the Swiss frontier to the confines of Hungary will dissolve into total anarchy; whether His Majesty's Government share that view; and whether the Supreme Council in Paris, including the United States of America, or His Majesty's Government are taking steps to deal with the situation?
§ 61 and 62. Lord HENRY CAVENDISH- BENTINCKasked the Prime Minister (1) whether, with a view to restoring the economic life of Europe, the Government will propose that international credits be given for the purchase of raw materials by those countries of Central and Eastern Europe which are at present suffering from inability to purchase such materials, owing to the breakdown of their exchanges;
(2) whether he is aware that considerable suffering exists in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Austria, and Jugo-Slovakia owing to the fact that the economic and financial breakdown is preventing the exchange of food, raw materials, and manufactured goods; and whether His Majesty's Government will endeavour to bring together the responsible statesmen of these countries with a view, to making the adjustments necessary for securing the free exchange of goods between them?
§ The PRIME MINISTERHis Majesty's Government are fully conscious of the very serious economic situation existing in Central Europe, and, in conjunction with the Supreme Council in Paris, are taking all possible means to alleviate the difficulties. They have reached the conclusion that only a comprehensive arrangement for a large international credit would adequately meet the situation, and it is essential for the success of such a proposal that the United States should contribute that part of the expenditure which has to be incurred in dollars. Urgent representations have accordingly been made to the United States Government in this sense. The Noble Lord's proposal for free exchange of goods between the various countries would undoubtedly tend to make conditions easier, and His Majesty's Government will certainly lose no opportunity of promoting such an arrangement, as they feel that the seriousness of the situation is such that all possible measures should be taken.