13. Captain CAZALETasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations have been made to the Spanish Government on the subject of their failure to pay sums, amounting to some £1,400,000, owing for more than two years to the Santander-Mediterraneo 9 Company for railway construction work entirely financed by a British company, the Anglo-Spanish Construction Company, Limited; and what reply, if any, has been received from the Spanish Government?
§ Sir J. SIMONOn the 19th April, His Majesty's Ambassador at Madrid handed a Note to the Spanish Minister of State intimating that the action of the Spanish Government in withholding the sums due to the Santander-Mediterraneo Railway was causing great prejudice to the British company which financed the construction of the railway. No reply has yet been received to this Note, but Sir George Grahame will continue to watch the matter carefully and take such steps as he properly can on behalf of the Anglo-Spanish Construction Company.
Captain CAZALETIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this railway has been in operation for two and a-half years, and that this debt has not been acknowledged by the Spanish Government?
§ Sir J. SIMONindicated assent.