§ 21. Sir ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUELasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the German authorities are discriminating on the defaulted German foreign obligations to the disadvantage of British creditors and traders as compared with other foreign creditors and traders; and will he suggest to the German authorities that an exchange clearing by Britain, an import limit on German goods, and a control regulation of Anglo-German trade will provide a convenient method by which the annual balance of approximately £12,000,000 of Anglo-German trade in favour of Germany can be used to avoid the discrimination between equally ranking foreign creditors of Germany now operating to the disadvantage of British creditors and traders?
§ Mr. EDENRepresentations on this matter have recently been made to the German Government. I am not in a position to make any further statement at present.
§ Sir A. M. SAMUELIs the hon. Gentleman aware that a preferential treatment is being given to Switzerland and Holland against us?
§ Mr. EDENMy right hon. Friend has already made representations on the matter raised by the question.
§ Sir A. M. SAMUELDoes not the Government propose to take any action in regard to what in British law would be an illegal preference by a defaulting debtor against a creditor?