§ Mr. G. Straussasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether His Majesty's Government have been consulted about the proposed loan to Spain by a group of international banking houses?
§ Mr. Priceasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that attempts are being made by the Spanish Government to obtain extensive long-term credits, unsecured on any assets, from this country; and whether he will take steps in the proper quarter to indicate the undesirability of such transactions?
§ Mr. W. Robertsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any approach has been made to the Loans Advisory Committee of the Treasury regarding proposed credits to the Spanish Government?
§ Sir J. SimonSo far as I am aware, it is not the case that the Spanish Government have expressed any desire to borrow1638W from this country and no approach on the matter has been made to the Foreign Transactions Advisory Committee. There is no probability, owing to present conditions, of it being found possible to issue foreign loans of any substantial amount in this market, and accordingly the question of giving consent to the raising of any loan by or on behalf of the Spanish Government does not arise. In these circumstances, on being consulted as to British financial institutions associating themselves with an inquiry into the financial and economic position of Spain, His Majesty's Government expressed the view that this would be inappropriate for the reasons above stated and no British financial institution has associated itself with the proposal.