§ 67. Mr. WISEasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total amount of the claims of British traders against the Turkish Government; and if any scheme of settlement may be looked for in the near future?
§ Mr. BALDWINWith regard to the first part of the question, it is not possible 1554 without considerable labour to discriminate between claims of British traders and claims of other British nationals, but the claims notified by British nationals against Turkey in respect of property, rights and interests confiscated or damaged and in respect of debts show a total of about £23,000,000. With regard to the last part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the hon. and gallant Member for Gateshead (Brigadier-General Surtees) on the 1st August last.
Mr. MALONEWould not the best way of getting a satisfactory settlement be to treat direct with Mustapha Kemal as has been done by both Italy and France?