§ 23. Mr. McAdamasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that, by agreement of 1st January, 1946, Siam agreed to provide 1½ million tons of free rice for the Allies, as a war indemnity; and how, so far, that agreement has been implemented.
§ Mr. BevinIt is not correct to describe the free rice as a war indemnity. The exact position is that by the agreement of 1st January, 1946, Siam undertook to provide free the accumulated surplus of rice in the country, above her internal needs, up to a maximum of 1½ million tons. This agreement was, however, modified in May, 1946, when His Majesty's Government agreed to pay for rice exported after 25th March, 1946. Rice supplied free amounted to 143,716 tons.