§ 11. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proportion of the stock, holdings, or debentures of the Lena Goldfield Company, Limited, are held by British, German and American nationals, respectively?
§ Mr. EDENInasmuch as the company's stock consists in part of bearer shares and notes, it is impossible to state the precise proportion of the total stock held in any one country. The bulk of the stock, however, is known to be held in Great Britain.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs not the hon. Gentleman aware that the Deutsche Bank actually hold more than 50 per cent. of the total stock of this company, and does he think that His Majesty's Government should continue to act as debt collectors for German banks and German investors?
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the Soviet Government's holding is in excess of the total British holding in the Lena Goldfield Company, Limited; and does he still think that a trade agreement which will give employment to large numbers of people in this country ought to be held up by a matter of this kind?
§ Sir WILLIAM DAVISONIs it not a fact that the Lena Goldfield Company, Limited, is a British company, and the British Government are responsible for its protection, whoever may be the individual shareholders at any given time?
§ Mr. WILLIAMSOught this country's interests to be subordinated to the collection of money for German people?