Colonel NEWMANasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that the time of two conferences has been almost totally occupied with discussions with the representatives of the Communist Government of Russia, he will say what immediate and practical steps are being taken by the Allied Powers, including America, to help Austria, whose misfortunes are due to the Treaty terms imposed on her and not to any Communist theory of government?
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Mr. CHAMBERLAINThis country has advanced the sum of £12,200,000 to Austria since the Armistice and advances have also been made by other Governments. The principal Allied Powers have agreed to release the liens on Austrian assets in respect of reparation and relief credits for a term of 20 years, in order to enable Austria to obtain a foreign loan, and have made repeated efforts to obtain the unanimous consent of the Powers entitled to reparation from Austria to this release. The United States Government have obtained from Congress power to agree to this measure, if it be adopted by substantially all the other Powers concerned. The Austrian Government have recently applied to the Reparation Commission for the immediate release of certain specific assets for a term of 20 years in order to enable the proposed Bank of Issue to be founded, and it is the earnest hope of the Government that the Austrian Government's proposals in this matter will be successfully carried through.