§ 1. Mr. DAYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any of the countries who are members of the League of Nations are in arrears to date with respect to the contributions due from them towards the expenses of the League; and, if so, will he give particulars showing the amount in gold francs and the English currency equivalent?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Eden)As the answer is a long one, and involves a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. EDENThat is not in the question.
1674 Following is the statement:
The Assembly decided, at its sixteenth session (1935) in respect of the contributions due by certain Member States, to cancel part of them and to accept payment of the balance by instalments over a period of years. It was an essential part of this arrangement that the States in question should not be regarded as being in arrears, so long as they continue to pay the arrears instalments in addition to their current contributions. Failure to pay any instalment would mean that the original claim of the League is revived in full.
No arrangement has been reached with regard to the following contributions:
§ Arrears immediately payable.
| Country. | Sum due (gold francs). | Approximate current Sterling equivalent. |
| £ | ||
| Albania (1935) | 30,294.65 | 2,000 |
| Dominican Republic (1934/35) | 33,548.13 | 2,210. |
| Ethiopia (1935) | 14,041.97 | 930 |
| Guatemala (1931/35) | 149,493.96 | 9,860 |
| Haiti (1935) | 30,294.65 | 2,000 |
| Honduras (1935) | 10,790.00 | 710 |
| Latvia (1935) | 22,720.00 | 1,500 |
| Liberia (1932/35) | 122,036.68 | 8,050 |
| Nicaragua (1923/32) (1934/35). | 256,673.55 | 16,930 |
| Panama (1933/35) | 37,707.06 | 2,490 |
| Paraguay (1927) (1929/35). | 223,675.96 | 14,750 |
| Peru (1935) | 150,014.25 | 9,900 |
| Poland (1935) | 545,503.70 | 35,980 |
| Rumania (1935) | 573,279.75 | 37,820 |
| Salvador (1930) (1933/35). | 19,079.15 | 1,260 |
| Total | 2,219,153.46 | 146,390 |
§ B. Consolidated arrears payable by annual instalments: (Decision of 1923 Assembly).
| Country. | Sum due (gold francs). | Approximate current Sterling equivalent. |
| Nicaragua (10 years) | 48,061.45 | 3,170 |
| Paraguay (5 years) | 15,370.80 | 1,010 |
| Salvador (10 years) | 6,087.62 | 400 |
| Total | 69,519.87 | 4,580 |
| Gold francs. | Approximate current Sterling equivalent. | |
| General Total A. and B. | 2,288,673.33 | £150,970 |
3. Miss RATHBONEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what has been the total of the financial contributions paid to the League of Nations by Ethiopia since its admission to membership of the League?
§ Mr. EDENI understand that the total of the financial contributions paid to the League of Nations by Abyssinia since its admission to membership of the League is 653,596.31 gold francs.