HC Deb 28 June 1949 vol 466 cc72-3W
51. Mr. Hollis

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason Mr. Graham Greene was refused the businessman's allowance of £10 a day when he wished to proceed to New York in order to negotiate concerning a dramatic version of his book, "The Heart of the Matter."

Sir S. Cripps

£10 per day is a maximum and the amount allotted must depend on the purposes and on the duration of the visit. Mr. Graham Greene did not state in his application, as he did in his letter to "The Times" either that he had a contract, or that the dramatic version had to be written in New York under the contract, or that royalties had already been advanced to him or that even if the play were unsuccessful the dollars earned would reimburse his expenditure, nor could any further information as to his requirements be obtained on application to his bankers who lodged the request, as they stated that Mr. Greene was away. Had Mr. Greene vouchsafed to the Bank of England the facts now disclosed by him, they would undoubtedly have granted him a larger allotment of dollars on the production of suitable evidence of his arrangements.

Forward to