§ 55. Captain MARTINasked the Prime Minister whether he can offer any hope of compensation for injuries to person or property of civilians caused by air raids?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe Treaty with Germany provides that compensation may be claimed from Germany in respect of damage to injured persons and to surviving dependants by personal injury to or death of civilians caused by attacks from the air, arid in respect of damage to property of civilians injured or destroyed by the acts of Germany or her Allies from the air. Claims, if not already furnished to the Foreign Claims Office, should be sent to the Board of Trade. I am not, of course, in a position to say how much will be recovered from Germany in respect of them.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERWill the person who makes the claim get paid anything if Germany does not carry out her obligations to pay?
§ Mr. RAWLINSONWhen is it expected Germany will make the first payment on account?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI have answered practically the same question two or three times. Payment by Germany cannot he received until after the Reparation Commission has got effectively to work, and the Reparation Commission cannot get to work until after the Treaty has been ratified.