§ 46 and 68. Mr. HAMMERSLEYasked (1) the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the advisability of postponing the signing of the agreements regarding the 'amounts suspended under the Hoover plan until the other Governments concerned signify their willingness to sign;
(2) the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can now give some information on the reply of the other Governments concerned in the Hoover plan to the request of the United States of America Government that they should sign agreements regarding the amounts suspended in respect of their war debts to the United States of America?
§ Mr. EDENI have been asked to reply. I understand that all the other Governments concerned have agreed in principle to sign agreements regarding the amounts suspended under the Hoover plan with the United States Government, and that discussions are now proceeding, while in some cases agreements have already been signed. In these circumstances, the suggestion made by my hon. Friend does not arise.
§ Mr. HAMMERSLEYAm I to understand from that answer that certain countries have actually signed the agreement; and, if so, would my hon. Friend say which they are?
§ Mr. HAMMERSLEYis it not the case that the signature of these agreements will bind us to the payment in respect of the postponed debts, which includes interest, and that the interest has been fixed by a unilateral statement and not by agreement; and, if that be so, would it not be advisable to await the comments of France?
§ 51. Mr. SMEDLEY CROOKEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the advisability of representing to the United States of America that they should accept manufactured goods and coal in the payment of this country's war debts to America?
§ Major ELLIOTI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the right hon. and gallant Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Colonel Wedgwood) on 11th February last.
§ 71. Mr. HAMMERSLEYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether by reason of the Hoover Plait there is any increase in our total indebtedness to the United States; if so, what is the amount of this increase; and will he give details?
§ Major ELLIOTI have been asked to reply. The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative and the second part does not, therefore, arise. The agreements to give effect to the Hooven Plan provide that the amounts suspended in respect of all the intergovernmental obligations concerned shall be repaid by 10 equal annuities from 1st July, 1933, together with interest at the rate of 4 per cent, per annum from the same date.
§ Mr. HAMMERSLEYIs the 4 per cent. per annum interest a figure that has been arrived at by agreement between our Government and the Government of the United States, or is it merely a unilateral figure?
§ Major ELLIOTI should be very much obliged if my hon. Friend would put that question on the Paper.