Wing-Commander Jamesasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is satisfied that the recent undertaking to disclose to the French Government information concerning the bank balances in this country of persons resident in France will not operate to the future prejudice of the tradition of secrecy consistently observed by the British banking community.
§ Sir J. AndersonYes, Sir. Compliance by the banks with their legal obligations under the Trading with the Enemy legislation to transfer balances to the account of the Custodian of Enemy Property obviously constitutes a wholly abnormal interruption of the relationship between hanker and client, for which the banks cannot be held responsible. This interruption was due solely to circumstances arising out of the course of the war. The undertaking to which my hon. Friend refers thus arises from quite exceptional650W circumstances, and is itself a purely wartime measure, which, as I stated in the House on 13th February, has no bearing upon Government policy affecting the maintenance of private relations of confidentiality in peace-time.