Evening star., 1939-07-24
BY the Associated Press.

LONDON, July "a. - Confronted
with opposition suggestions that he
was trying to buy peace with Ger
many, Prime Minister Chamber
lain declared in the House of Conf
mons today that there is no pro-
posal for a German loan" now under
consideration.
Questioned about reports that R.
S. Hudson, British secretary for
overseas trade, and DR.. Helmuth
Wohlthat, German trade expert, had
discussed scheme to lend Germany
S. 000, 900 900, Mr.. Chamberlain said:
The cabinet knew nothing about
these conversations nor did any
other minister other than the min
lister concerned
Arthur Greenwood, deputy leader
OF the Labor party, who earlier had
warned the Prime Minister against
flirting with the idea of appease-
ment, jumped up and asked:
Can we take it that there
is no intention on the part of the
government now to begin discus
Sions which might look like brib-
cry to Herr Hitler in order to buy
peace?"
1T is not the intention of the
government to initiate any discus
sions of this kind" Mr.. Chamber
lain replied.
Resignation Discussed.
There was discussion in London
papers and diplomatic quarters
about the possibility of Mr.. Hudson
resigning because of the furore
| caused by his conversation. Relia-
BILE reports in lobbies of Parliament,
however, said he had no intention
of doing so.
At the same time. in the House of
Lords, Foreign Secretary Lord Hall
fax said Mr.. Hudson's talk with DR..
Wohlthat was entirely "unoficial'
and was in no sense unusual"
The Prime Minister. calm in the
face OF a barrage of angry questions
from the Labor benches, backed up
Mr.. Hudson all the way.
| Il do not see any particular harm
in this particular conversation" he
said. 1T was personal conversa-
ton between Mr.. Hudson and an
official on the German side. The
mischief If mischief there is, was
the disclosure of what took place
in the conversations or the partial
disclosure to newspapers"
The statement made by Halifax
in the House of Lords and suDse-
quently by Mr.. Chamberlain in
Commons was in response to ques-
tions IN the respective houses by
Lord Smell and Mr.. Greenwood.
Text of Statement.
The statement said.
Il assume that the noble lord Cor
member in CommonS) is referring
to reports that have been in clrcula-
ton during the last few days arising
out OF conversations between the
secretary to the department of over
seas trade and Herr Wohlthat, eco
nomic adviser to Field Marshal
Goering, minister in charge of the
German four-year plan.
Herr WOhlthat was on a visit to
this country as German representa-
tive on the whaling conference. 1t is
also part of his responsibilities to
discuss matters arising out of the
refugee question. AS far as 1 am
aware, Herr Wohlthat's mission did
not extend beyond these matters.
I'm the course of other visits in
recent years to this country Herr
Wohlthat has met number of Off
cials and others who are concerned
with trade and economic questions
affecting the two countries, consider
alton of these matters forming part
Of Herr Wohlthat's normal duties.
Talk Not Unusual.
"It was, accordingly, in no sense
unusual that the secretary to the
Department of Overseas Trade and
Herr Wohlthat should meet and
should discuss subjects in which
they are mutually interested and for
! (See CHAMBERLAIN, Page A-4)