§ 27. Mr. HALESasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the announcement by the United States Government that, although token payments on account of war debts will be accepted, such country making these payments will be considered a defaulter, he will give an assurance that in future no further payments will be made by Great Britain in excess of the amounts 1926 we recover from our debtors as far as war debts are concerned?
§ The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. Neville Chamberlain)I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on Tuesday last to the right hon. Member for South Molton (Mr. Lambert) and the hon. Member for Southampton (Mr. Craven-Ellis), to which I have nothing to add.
§ Mr. HALESIf these payments, which are not provided for, are to be continued without a corresponding collection of our war debts, will it not convert a surplus into a permanent deficit, which will have the gravest consequences in future years?