§ Sir R. CLOUGHasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he has any information to the effect that Herr Hugo Stinnes, the German industrial magnate, has offered the Dutch East Indian Government a loan of £10,000,000 at 6 per cent. on condition that the Dutch authorities place their 1922 contracts with his combine; and whether, if this is correct, facts of this nature are taken into consideration in assessing the ability of Germany to meet her obligations under the Versailles Treaty?
Mr. HARMSWORTHReports of the nature indicated by the hon. Member have reached me from several quarters, but I have been unable to obtain any definite confirmation either of an offer by Herr Stinnes of a loan to the Netherlands East Indian Government or of his participation in a Dutch Colonial loan. The second part of the question, therefore, does not arise.