HC Deb 20 June 1932 vol 267 cc756-7
10. Sir NICHOLAS GRATTAN-DOYLE

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will ascertain from the Argentine Government its attitude towards the investment of British capital in the Anglo-Argentine tramways; and will he point out to the Argentine authorities that the treatment of British capital in this company discourages further investment of British capital in public services in Argentina?

14. Lord SCONE

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is now able to make a further statement on the position of the Anglo-Argentine Tramway Company?

Mr. EDEN

I understand that negotiations are still proceeding between the company and the Argentine authorities, having as their basis the emergency tariff scheme, to which reference was made in the reply given to my Noble Friend the Member for Perth (Lord Scone) on 27th April last. The chairman of the company, the Duke of Atholl, is at present at Buenos Ayres, and is in close touch with His Majesty's Ambassador. I do not consider that in the circumstances further representations of the nature suggested by my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, North (Sir N. Grattan-Doyle) should at present be made.

Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLE

As this is a matter of extreme importance, will my hon. Friend pursue his investigations and endeavour to arrive at a conclusion?

Mr. EDEN

As the chairman of the company is actually at Buenos Ayres and is in touch with our Ambassador there, I think that we had better wait for the moment for any further developments from there.

Mr. HANNON

Are we to assume that the Government have instructed our Ambassador at Buenos Ayres to give all necessary assistance to the Duke of Atholl in his negotiations with the Argentine Government?

Mr. EDEN

Certainly.