HC Deb 10 November 1938 vol 341 cc297-8
64. Mr. Price

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of credit which, up to date, has been granted to Czechoslovakia by the Bank of England under Treasury guarantee, and for what purposes that credit has been used?

67. Mr. Graham White

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the extent to which the Government of Czechoslovakia have used the special credit of £10,000,000 opened for them by the Bank of England?

Sir J. Simon

Up to the present, the Bank of England advance has been drawn on to the extent of £5,000,000. I have not yet received a detailed statement of the purposes for which it is being used.

Mr. Price

Will the Chancellor give an undertaking that this money will not be used for the purpose of advancing German trade in Czechoslovakia, at the expense of our own?

Sir J. Simon

The hon. Gentleman is probably aware that we have appointed a liaison officer, who has gone to Prague for the purpose of providing us with detailed information on the purposes for which this money is being used.

Mr. A. Henderson

In view of the terrible position in Czechoslovakia at the present time with regard to refugees, will the right hon. Gentleman give this matter consideration, with a view to ensuring that a considerable proportion of this grant will be utilised to help these refugees to come to this country and other countries?

Sir J. Simon

It has always been understood, and indeed stipulated, that the primary purpose of the grant of this money is for assisting refugees.

66. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the French Government have now indicated their attitude to the proposal that they should join with His Majesty's Government in the proposed guaranteed loan of £10,000,000 to the Government of Czechoslovakia?

Sir J. Simon

This matter is at present being discussed with the French Government.