§ 29. Lieut.-Colonel HOWARD - BURYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether His Majesty's Government is taking any steps with regard to the widely published statements of Mr. Mellon in the matter of the inter-Allied debts?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLHis Majesty's Government have addressed a communication to the United States Government on the subject, the terms of which were published this morning.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HOWARD-BURYIs my right hon. Friend aware that Mr. Mellon has again repeated the statement that we are receiving more from Allied countries than we are paying to the United States, and that these statements have done very great harm to our interests in France and Italy?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLWell, Sir, both in speech in this House and by formal Note we have placed our views on these transactions on record, and I am quite sure nothing lies in our power to take any other step than the steps we have taken.
§ Major COLFOXHas the Government denial received great publicity in the United States Press, and if this is not so cannot steps be taken to ensure this?
§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEWill the right hon. Gentleman take this opportunity, or an early opportunity, of drawing the attention of the American people to the American debts still due to bond-holders in this country?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI think that all these matters do obtain great publicity, and from some points of view that publicity is regrettable, but I do not see how in the circumstances which have arisen we could have avoided taking the steps we have taken.
§ Sir FRANK NELSONWill the correspondence be published in a White Paper?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLWhat correspondence?
§ Sir F. NELSONThe Note of His Majesty's Government and the reply they have received?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt will certainly be published, but whether it will be necessary to lay a White Paper or not we shall see later on.
Captain CROOKSHANKHas the right hon. Gentleman's attention been drawn to a recent letter in the "Times" by the Bishop of Gibraltar, and will he see to it that publicity is given throughout Europe, at any rate, to our Note in reply to Mr. Mellon?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI think it will obtain a full measure of publicity but we cannot do more than state publicly the view which this country takes. No doubt other views may be stated in contradiction of it, but the world must judge and public opinion must judge outside of this House and inside it.