HC Deb 19 May 1924 vol 173 c1815
26. Sir F. WISE

asked the Prime Minister if His Majesty's Government, when they occupied Palestine and Iraq, seized the sums in the hands of the agencies of the Council of Administration of the Ottoman Public Debt; if they suppressed these agencies; and if they collected and appropriated the revenue ceded to the bondholders in these territories?

The PRIME MINISTER

When British military forces occupied Palestine and Iraq, the agencies of the Council for the Administration of the Ottoman Public Debt were not suppressed, but the sums in their hands and the revenues collected by them were placed in a suspense account in order that they might be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the future Treaty of Peace. In conformity with the provisions of the Treaty with Turkey, the revenues in Palestine and Iraq, formerly assigned to the Ottoman Debt Council, have now been treated as part of the revenues of those countries.

Sir F. WISE

Have those amounts come back to the credit of the bondholders?

The PRIME MINISTER

They are now being treated as part of the revenues of these countries.