§ 29. Mr. Hurdasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will permit the use of Egyptian sterling accounts for the payment of sums due to British manufacturers for goods in transit from their works to Egypt during late July and early August last, in view of the fact that manufacturers could not have had any prior knowledge of the Government's intention to prevent payment for goods so despatched, and that the settlement of these outstanding accounts would not benefit Egypt.
§ Mr. BirchI am afraid that any relaxation of our existing restrictions must wait until the negotations whch we contemplate with the Egyptian Government on claims and counter-claims.
§ Mr. HurdAs this is really quite a small matter and obviously these few firms have a prior claim on any Egyptian sterling balances here, would it not be fair, as well as sensible, to allow these claims to be settled straight away?
§ Mr. BirchI quite agree that there are many difficult cases, but the only thing to do is to wait for a general settlement.