§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the annual interest on the British loan to the Government of the French Republic; and whether this interest has been paid during the current year?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINInterest on the debt of France to the British Government is not paid in cash, but is added, for accounting purposes, to the principal of the debt, pending a general settlement of the question of Inter-Allied indebtedness. The amount is variable, but is something more than £30,000,000 per annum. To the extent of about £3,000,000, interest due by the British Government is set off against interest due to it.