HC Deb 07 April 1925 vol 182 cc2018-9
50. Captain GARRO-JONES

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government has received any reply, official or unofficial, to the last published note to the French Government on the subject of their debt to this country; and, if so, whether there is any reason why it should be kept secret?

Mr. CHURCHILL

No official reply has been received from the French Government. For obvious reasons it would not be proper for me to make any statement except as regards an official reply.

Captain GARRO-JONES

Is it necessary for the right hon. Gentleman to be so reticent? Can he at least tell the House whether the onus for taking the next step rests upon him or not?

Mr. CHURCHILL

I conceive that should any step he required to be taken—which I do not assume at all—by His Majesty's Government, it would be taken on behalf of the Government as a whole and announced by whatever Minister was judged to be appropriate.

Captain GARRO-JONES

Could we know upon whom the onus rests of raising this matter in the Cabinet?

Mr. SPEAKER

Those matters are secret.