§ 13. Mr. BURNETTasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has seen the statement on the German debt, issued at Basle on 11th April by the British representative, to the effect that the difficulties were those of transfer and not German incapacity to pay; and will he arrange that the annual amounts due by the German public authorities to their British long-term creditors shall be liquidated by an exchange clearing of harbour and dock dues payable by the United Kingdom and German shipping in the United Kingdom and German ports, respectively, in addition to the credit balance accruing to Germany on Anglo-German trade?
§ Sir J. SIMONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on the 21st March last by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the question asked by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for West Birkenhead (Lieut.-Colonel Sandeman Allen).