60. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, as board meetings of the Suez Canal Company are in abeyance, he can make some statement as to the intentions of the directors of this company as to receiving their fees of between £3,000 and £5,000 a year; and whether steps have been taken to safeguard the assets and reserves of the company, held in Paris, against any outside efforts to lay claim to these assets for utilisation by the enemy?
§ Sir K. WoodI understand that, in present circumstances, the question of current fees is being left in abeyance so far as the British directors are concered. I have no knowledge of the attitude that is being adopted by the other members of the board. My hon. Friend will appreciate that the greater part of the directors' fees depends on the net profits of the company. As regards the second part of the Question, the assets and reserves of the company held in Paris are in French francs and cannot therefore add to the enemy's external resources. The greater part of the company's assets and reserves are, however, held in the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and are, therefore, blocked under the general measures which have been taken by ourselves and the United States Government.
Mr. De la BèreCan my right hon. Friend say whether the general position of the Anglo-French Commission with regard to the Canal is satisfactory, and whether they are co-operating with the English and Egyptian Forces?
§ Sir K. WoodI will make inquiries.