§ 1. Commander BELLAIRSasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether the German authorities in Belgium have in the past requisitioned any crops grown by the Belgian people; whether in the operation zone, the ètape zone, or the occupation zone the German military authorities have carried out their promises made last year to allot to the native population 120 grammes of wheat per capita per diem; whether these promises have been carried out; and, if not, whether as a consequence more food had to be imported by the Neutral Commission for the civil population in Belgium?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Lord Robert Cecil)If the first part of the question refers to the whole period during which the Germans have been in occupation of Belgium, the answer is in the affirmative. The 1914 harvest had, of course, been in large measure seized or destroyed before the work of the Belief Commission began. As regards the 1915 harvest, all wheat and rye in the occupation zone was reserved for the civil population, and I believe the whole quantity has in fact gone to the population. In the ètape zone, which includes the operation zone for this purpose, the promise of 120 grammes per capita per diem has, I believe, been carried out by the Germans. As to the last part of the question, I can only say that, compared? with the volume of imported foodstuffs normally consumed by Belgium, the imports of the Commission are not excessive, and that the ration allowed to the Commission has never been consciously increased on the ground that German requisitions or purchases made an increase necessary.
§ Commander BELLAIRSCan the right hon. Gentleman give any information about the potato crop? Does that apply to the potato crop also?
§ Lord R. CECILI would like notice of that question. I think it does.
§ 3. Colonel YATEasked the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether foodstuff and other commodities are imported into Belgium, other than those imported by the Neutral Commission, and are sold to the civil population of Belgium; and if he can state from what neutral countries such commodities are exported, or whether the Neutral Commission supply all the foodstuff imported for the civil population in Belgium?
§ Lord R. CECILThere may, of course, be a certain amount of smuggling traffic, and there is a certain traffic in Dutch native produce not covered by Dutch export prohibitions. There is also one Dutch Commission, which exports a certain amount of bread to Belgium, though I believe this is not now in operation. The Neutral Commission is the only channel for importations into Belgium recognised or encouraged by His Majesty's Government.