§ 48. Sir ARTHUR FELLasked the Prime Minister the amount of our claim for reparation in respect of the 8,000 ships and their cargoes destroyed by the enemy during the War; and if this claim is presented as actual damage and ranks with the damage done to collieries, factories, and buildings in other countries and should be satisfied pari passu with them out of any cash or ships obtained from Germany as reparation?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe Inter-Allied Commission on Reparation have not yet reported to the Conference, and until the Report is received it would not be right for me to make any statement on the subject.
§ Sir A. FELLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the grave anxiety that is felt with regard to this question, and because our ships are at the bottom of the sea and cannot be seen people think because they are out of sight they are out of mind?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWMy hon. Friend must not assume that the Government do not agree with his view. All I said was that it is not possible to discuss it until we have the Report.