§ 31. Mr. Thorneasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he can give any information in connection with the Argentine cattle owners' present of 5,000 cattle for Empire soldiers?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (Mr. Boothby)A committee of prominent Argentine cattle owners has launched a scheme to present His Majesty's Government as a token of confidence and friendship with live cattle to be consumed by soldiers of the Empire, and a total of 5,000 head of cattle is anticipated. It has also been arranged that the cattle shall be slaughtered in the Argentine at below cost. A message conveying the great appreciation of His Majesty's Government has been conveyed to the committee through His Majesty's Ambassador at Buenos Aires, and I am glad to have this opportunity of express- 294 ing publicly my Noble Friend's gratitude for this gift and the spirit which has prompted it.