2. Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can indicate the total amount of indemnities and levies exacted by Germany in occupied territories up to the present time; and whether, when the terms of peace proposed by the Government came to be dismissed, they will include the repayment of all such moneys to the countries and cities concerned?
§ The ASSISTANT-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Lord R. Cecil)I have no exhaustive figures, but, as an example, I may mention that the War contribution levied on Belgium by the German Governor-General amounts by itself to 2,330,000,000fr from November, 1914, to November, 1917, apart from enormous fines imposed on localities, firms, and private persons. These monstrous exactions will certainly have to be taken into account when peace terms are being arranged.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODMay I ask whether we have levied any indemnities or levies on German East Africa, and if not why not?
§ Lord R. CECILI am afraid I must ask for notice of that question.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWhy should not we do to them what they do to us?