§ Mr. CULVERWELLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now ask His Majesty's Ambassador to press the consultative council and the interventor of the state of Rio de Janeiro to arrive at a decision about the tramway and ferry fares of the Leopoldina Terminal and Cantareira Companies, as the delay is a hardship to British nationals; and will be inform the Brazilian Government that an agreed settlement of this matter must form part of the scheme for meeting its defaulted foreign obligations?
§ Mr. BALDWINAs my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Dorset,524W West (Major Colfox) was informed on 7th February, the Commission of Inquiry has reported on its investigation into the books of the Cantareira Company, and the matter is now in the hands of the Consultative Council of the State of Rio de Janeiro. I do not consider that the action suggested in the first part of my hon. Friend's question would serve any useful purpose at present, though the position will be kept under review. As regards the second part of the question, the decree issued by the Brazilian Government on 5th February, which was referred to in the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Chatham (Sir P. Goff) on 14th February, fixes new conditions for the services of the Brazilian Federal, State and municipal foreign loans, and it would therefore be impracticable for matters such as that now under discussion to be included within its scope.