HC Deb 19 August 1919 vol 119 cc2138-41W
Colonel WEDGWOOD

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will give in tabular form, as on 1st July, in each of the last ten years, and on the 1st of each month in this year, the exchange value of £l sterling in each of the following countries: Japan, China, India, Egypt, United States of America, Argentina, Germany, Austria, Czecho-Slovakia, Poland, Russia, France, Switzerland, Italy, Holland, and Sweden?

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

I have been asked to reply.

The following are the rates quoted for exchange on London at the middle of each of the years 1910 to 1918, and at the beginning of each of the months January to August, 1919. The rates are, in the majority of cases, those at which telegraphic transfers (T.T.) were sold, or the selling rates for sight exchange.
Japan, per Year T. T. China (shanghai) per Tael T. T. India, per Rupee T.T. Egypt (Alexandria), Piastres per £ sight. United States, Dollars per £ sight. Argentina, per Peso (gold) 90 days. ‡ France, Franca per £ sight. Switzerland, Francs per £ sight Italy, Lire per £sight. Holland, Gulden£ sight. Sweden, Kronor per £eight.
s. d. s. d. s. d. d.
1st July,1910 2 0⅜ 2 * 1 33/3 ½ 971/1 3/6 4.85.85 47⅞ 25.19 25.22 25.33 12.08, 18.18
1st July,1911 2 0⅜ 2 * 1 4 97 1/1 1/6 4.86.15 48⅛ 25.31 25.30 25.40¼ 12.07⅝ 18.17
1st July,1912 2 0⅜ 2 91/16† 1 4,1/32 97 7/16 4.87.30 48 5/16 25.23¼ 25.33½ 25.5l½ 12.07¾ 18.21½
1st July,1913 2 0⅜ 2 8* 1 31 15/16 97 11/16 4.86.85 48 5/32 25.25 25.30 25.97 12.13 18.25½
1st July,1914 2 0⅜ 2 * 1 8 31/32 97 11/16 4.873/5 47¾ 25.15 25.20 25.26½ 12.12½ 18.26½
1st July,1915 2 0 9/16 2 3⅛* 1 3 27/32 97½ 4.76¼ 48 7/16 27.25 26.05 29.65 12.00 18.25
1st July,1916 2 2⅛ 2 11⅜ ¾ 1 4 1/16 97½ 4.75¾ 48 15/16 28.14½ 25.27 30.40 11.50 16.40
30th June,1917 2 1 11/16 3 9¾| 1 4 7/32 97½ 4.75⅜ 50½ 27.40 22.50 34.55 11.56½ 15.60
2nd July,1918 2 2 5/16 4 1 5 31/32 97 7/16 4.755/16 51¾| 27.17 18.95 43.50 9.39 13.45
1919
1st January 2 2 5 2 1 531/32 97¾ 4.75⅞| 52⅛ 25.98 23.05 30.37½ 11.19 16.32
1st February 2 1⅝ 5 0 1 5 31/32 97¾ 4.75¾ 51¾ 25.98½ 23.47 30.37½ 11.53 16.9 7
1st March 2 1⅜ 4 8 1 5 31/32 97¾ 4.75¾ 51.9/16 26.25 23.00 30.37½ 11.57 16.95
1st April 2 4 9 1 5 31/32 97½ 4.57 51⅝ 27.90 23.10 34.00 11.46 17.15
1st May 2 4 11½ 1 5 31/32 97¾ 4.66⅝ 51 13/16 28.32 23.10 35.12 11.63 17.46
2nd June 2 2 9/16 5 2 1 8 97¾ 4.62¼ 51 13/16 29.20 24.10 36.50 11.89 18.20
1st July 2 2⅜ 5 3 1 8 97¾ 4.57 ¼ 51⅛ 29.75 25.00 36.70 11.84 18.00
1st August 2 5 6 1 8 97¾ 4.35½ 52¾ 31.80 24.30 37.60 11.59 17.53
*Rate on 30th June, †Rate on 29th June. ‡After 1916 the rates quoted relate to telegraphic transfers.

The following rates were quoted in Germany and Austria in the years 1910–1914, and in Russia in the years 1910 –1917. Quotations are not available for German and Austrian exchange during the War:

Germany, Marks per £sight. Austria, Krone per £ sight. Russia, Roubles per £10 sight
1 July, 1910 20.44 24.02 94.42
1 July, 1911 20.44½ 24.05½ 94.48
1 July, 1912 20.47¾ 24.16 94.91
1 July, 1913 20.47¼ 24.16½ 95.5
1 July, 1914 20.51 24.18 95.72
1 July, 1915 129½
1 July, 1916 156
30 June, 1917 220

Since 5th August, 1919, quotations of London exchange in Germany have been available, the rate for the date named being 74 marks to the pound sterling.

On 8th August, 1919, a rate of 150 Austrian kroner to the pound sterling was reported.

Only occasional quotations are obtainable for Polish exchanges, and reliable Russian rates during the last two years have not been obtainable.

On 8th August, 1919, a rate of 68 Polish marks to the pound sterling was reported, and on 21st July a rate of 90 Polish marks to the pound.

No direct quotations of Czecho-Slovak exchange are immediately available.