HC Deb 03 July 1932 vol 156 cc2-3
1. Mr. MANVILLE

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total amount of money belonging to Turkish subjects now in the hands of the Public Trustee, and is the amount sufficient to justify His Majesty's Government to make an advance of 50 per cent. to British subjects having claims against Turkey, many of whom are in dire want owing to the non-payment of any portion of their claims?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Baldwin)

The total amount of cash belonging to persons in Turkey at present held by the Public Trustee is about £150,000, but it is not possible yet to say what proportion of this will eventually prove to belong to Turkish nationals. The claims against Turkey which have been put in by British subjects amount to £15,000,000 or £20,000,000 sterling, so that the reply to the second part of the question is in the negative.

2. Mr. MANVILLE

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the value of the property belonging either to Turkish nationals or to the Turkish Government in Egypt, Palestine, or Mesopotamia, or elsewhere; whether it is vested in the hands of the Public Trustee; and whether it will be utilised to pay the claims of British nationals against the Turkish Governments and Turkish subjects?

Mr. BALDWIN

The property in question is not vested in the English Public Trustee, and I am unaware to what it-amounts. I understand, however, that the value of Turkish property now in the hands of the Egyptian Public Custodian is somewhat less than 150,000 pounds Egyptian. Under the terms of the Treaty of Sevres, which is not, of course, in force, claims by the nationals of an Allied Power may be charged upon the property of Turkish nationals in the territory of that Allied Power, excluding territory formerly Turkish, but including Egypt.

Mr. MANVILLE

Is it not a fact that the British Government took over two men-of-war which were being built, in this country when the War broke out, on which a very large amount of money had been spent, and is not the value of these men-of-war applicable for this purpose?

Mr. BALDWIN

I will have inquiries made.