§ Sir M. Sueterasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the unsuccessful handling of the interests of 200,000 stockholders by the 1622W directors of the Anglo-Argentine railways in relation with the Argentine Government, he will consult the investment trust companies, the insurance companies, and other large British investors in the Anglo-Argentine railways as to suggesting that the Argentine Government should take over the railways against Argentine Government bonds secured on the railways, and so end the friction caused by the hostility to non-Argentine investors who have provided £250,000,000 to build those railways and upon much of which for years past no income has been obtainable?
§ Viscount CranborneI understand that discussions between the railway companies and the Argentine Government are still proceeding and I cannot share the view expressed by my hon. and gallant Friend that they are being unsuccessfully handled. As regards the remainder of the question, the position is as stated in the first part of the reply given to my hon. and gallant Friend on 21st April last, to the effect that while my right hon. Friend is always ready to consider requests for the support of His Majesty's Government on the part of British companies who have invested capital abroad, he has not been asked by the companies concerned to intervene as regards the present matter, and considers moreover that such questions are best dealt with by direct negotiations between the Argentine authorities and the companies in question.