§ 5. Mr. Edgar Granvilleasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what changes have taken place since 1939 in the shareholdings of the Suez Canal.
§ Mr. LawThe shares are bearer shares, and there is no means of ascertaining what transactions have taken place.
§ Mr. GranvilleIn view of the strategic importance of this great international highway, will my right hon. Friend ascertain whether the shares held by the Italian Government have not been disposed of to the nominees of Nazi Germany; and may I ask if he is watching that the Nazis are not getting away with the swag?
§ Mr. LawYes, Sir. We are watching very carefully the attempts of the Nazis to get away with the swag, but, as I 196 say, these shares are bearer shares, and it is extremely difficult, indeed impossible, to trace them at this moment.