§ 3. Commander BELLAIRSasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any official investigation has been made into the loss of £850,000 in gold shipped by the Indian Government in a German steamer for Hong Kong during the period of tension in 1914; and whether shipments of gold are now confined to vessels flying the British flag?
§ Earl WINTERTONOnly one shipment of gold on account of the Indian Government was made in the two months July and August of 1914, and that shipment was safely conveyed by a British vessel to its destination. Under present practice, gold moved on Indian Government account would undoubtedly be shipped on British vessels whenever possible.
§ Commander BELLAIRSWill my Noble Friend give the widest publicity 794 to the statement he has made, in view of the statement, made in a German publication, that this £850,000 was shipped in a German vessel?
§ Earl WINTERTONI do not know that there is any need to give it the widest publicity. My Department has made careful historical researches into this matter, and can find no basis whatever for the statement in the German book in question.