47. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that after deduction of freight there was a balance of £19,000,000 in favour of Argentina arising from Anglo-Argentine trade for the first six months of 1937; and will he prepare a scheme for exchange 981 clearing to enable this balance to be used to defend the £442,000,000 of British investments in Argentina upon much of which no income has been received by British nationals owing to the exchange tax imposed by the Argentine Government?
§ Sir J. SimonI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Mr. Liddall) on 30th November.
Mr. De la BèreWhy are the Government so reluctant to institute a scheme of exchange clearing, seeing that it might assist some of the small investors who are suffering great anxiety over their investments in Argentina, and is it not due from the Government to do something to protect their own investors?
§ Sir J. SimonI would ask the hon. Gentleman to look at the answer to which I have referred him. Perhaps he will find what he wants there.