33. Mr. L'ESTRANGE MALONEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the years during which the loans and advances of which repayment by the Persian Government is now being demanded by His Majesty's Government were made; whether these advances were made to the Persian Government or to the governors of certain provinces; for what purposes these advances were made; and what were the grounds for reducing the British Government's claim for repayment of the various loans and advances from £4,500,000 to £2,000,400?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Godfrey Locker-Lampson)I have been asked to reply. These loans and advances were 1336 made in varying circumstances and under different conditions between the years 1912 and 1920. All were made to, or on behalf of, the Persian Government, and were urgently required by them for the purpose of assisting them to maintain order and, so far as the great majority are concerned, to facilitate the recovery of the country from the effects of the War. The substantial reduction in the total claim, to which the hon. Member refers, was put forward by His Majesty's Government as a friendly offer which should take into consideration the financial circumstances of the Persian Government, and avoid laying on Persia's shoulders a burden greater than she is reasonably able to bear.
34. Mr. MALONEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the arrangement agreed to by the Persian Government for the repayment of the sums claimed by His Majesty's Government in respect of money advanced and war material supplied to Persia has been submitted for ratification by the Persian Legislature; whether it has been ratified by that assembly; and, if so, whether any of the annuities of £180,000 have been paid?
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI have been asked to reply. The answer to all three parts of the question is in the negative.