§ 63. Mr. Sloanasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the directors of Lever Brothers and Unilever announce that the German commissioners for the company's Dutch associate, Lever Brothers and Unilever, N.V., has ordered the payment of full dividends on the Dutch company's five, six and seven per cent. preference shares, which means, in effect, that the British company will benefit to the exent of £1,400,000; and does this mean that 562 ordinary financial relations are permitted to continue between these German and British traders and financiers?
§ Sir K. WoodNo financial relations are permitted between concerns in this country and those in the Netherlands, and no dividends can be remitted from this country to the Netherlands or from the Netherlands to this country so long as the Netherlands is in enemy occupation. Accordingly the answer to the last part of the Question is in the negative.
§ Mr. StokesDoes that also apply to any kind of negotiations or dealings with the Bank for International Settlement?
§ Sir K. WoodThat is another matter.