§ Sir F. WISEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the arrangement with Australia in regard to the debt that that country owes Britain?
§ Mr. SNOWDENI am sending the hon. Member a copy of an answer given on the 4th August, 1921, which explains the arrangements with Australia as regards2042W her war debt to His Majesty's Government. They may be summarised as repayment by an annuity spread over 36 years based on an interest charge of rather under 5 per cent.
§ Sir F. WISEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what foreign countries are paying interest and sinking fund on War debts or relief loans; and what the amounts are respectively for the year 1923?
§ Mr. SNOWDENPayments on account of interest were received during 1923 as follow:—
£ Belgium (Reconstruction Loan) 449,764 Belgian Congo 196,475 Greece 17,735 Relief Loans: Latvia 1,210 Hungary 3,845 Lithuania 1,009 Esthonia 15,060 Rumania 93,065 Czecho-Slovakia 29,454 These amounts are paid in as Miscellaneous Revenue. In addition the Czecho-Slovakian Government paid, in 1923, £37,609 interest and repaid £901,082 principal in respect of a wheat loan, while £3,118,900 bonds of the Austrian loan were received in repayment of an earlier reconstruction advance to Austria.