§ 10. Mr. SMITHERSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the change of government in Mexico, he will renew his efforts to obtain payment of capital and interest on debts owing to investors in this country?
§ 12. Sir A. KNOXasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has received any communication on behalf of the British bondholders of Mexican national debt bonds and of bonds of the national railroads of Mexico upon which the Mexican Government has defaulted; and whether, in any case, he has notified the organisation representing such bondholders that he is prepared to take up their case with the Mexican Government?
Mr. A. HENDERSONNo such request has reached His Majesty's Government and, as I have stated on other occasions, His Majesty's Government would not be in a position to take any steps in regard to these defaults unless requested to do so by the properly qualified agents of the British bondholders concerned. I consider that, in the first place, it is for the agents of the bondholders, who are fully qualified to decide their course of action, to put forward a request if they see fit to do so, rather than for His Majesty's Government to invite one.
§ Mr. SMITHERSCan we take it that the Foreign Secretary means that he is not to take the initiative in protecting the interests of British bondholders?
§ Mr. SMITHERSI wish they would.