§ 2. Mr. Graham Whiteasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the League of Nations Budget Committee approved the proposal to refund substantial sums of money to the member States of the League of Nations; how many Swiss gold francs it is anticipated will be re turned to this country; and whether His Majesty's Government will favourably consider devoting the whole or part of this refund to some of the humanitarian work of the League?
§ Mr. EdenThe Financial Regulations of the League require that the difference between the actual receipts and the expenditure for each financial year shall be entered in the budget of the second year following, and, if this difference constitutes a credit balance, shall be used to effect a corresponding reduction of the sum to be collected from the members of the League by way of contribution for that year. In the 1938 budget, which was approved by this year's Assembly, the sum allocated for the reduction of contributions was 1,875,394 gold francs. Of this sum 220,058 gold francs will be set off against the United Kingdom contribution. As this sum is not refunded but is used to effect a reduction in the later year's contribution, the last part of the question does not arise.