§ 20 and 21. Sir ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUELasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) if he is now in a position to say why the German Government has permitted the detention by the Dresdner Bank, Berlin, of a remittance by the city of Budapest in transit to England for the service of the city of Budapest's obligations to British subjects; and whether he has made representations to the German Government with a view to the release of the funds for transmission to the British authorities;
(2) whether he has requested the Hungarian national and municipal authorities, when remitting sterling to London for the service of their obligations in Britain, to hand those funds to His Majesty's commercial secretary at Budapest for transmission to London in order that they may not be detained by other persons en route?
§ Sir J. SIMONHis Majesty's Ambassador at Berlin is inquiring urgently into the circumstances in which these funds 9 have been detained, and I have requested His Excellency at the same time to take any action likely to secure their early release. It is, unfortunately, not possible to make any further statement on the subject until a full report on the situation is available. The suggestion that His Majesty's Legation at Budapest should undertake the transmission of these funds is precluded by the terms governing the service of the loan.
§ Sir A. M. SAMUELIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that if action of this kind on the part of the German Government is condoned it is utterly impossible for any British manufacturer to dare to send goods to Central Europe?
§ Sir J. SIMONI am not suggesting any condonation. I am saying that inquiries are being made and vigorous action taken.
§ Sir A. M. SAMUELIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that we can do no business while this mattter is unsettled?