§ 45. Mr. MANVILLEasked the Prime Minister if he is aware of the feeling of resentment amongst many of the manufacturers and traders of this country trading previously to the War with Austria that provision was not made in the Peace Treaty with that country for securing payment at pre-war rates of the balance of debts due from Austrian debtors to British creditors; is he aware that in setting off German property in this country and debts owing by this country to German creditors against British property in Germany, and debts owing by British debtors to German creditors, there is a suitable surplus which, if applied to the settlement of the Austrian deficiency, would be, to a large measure, sufficient for the purpose of satisfying these claims; will he say why, since these countries fought as one against this country, they have not been treated as one in the settlement of debts; and will he say if there is any way of meeting the inequitable position which apparently at present exists?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI would refer my hon. Friend to answers given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 27th October and 20th November to my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln, and on 24th November to my hon. Friend. With regard to the last part of the question, while the solidarity of Germany and Austria in the War justifies the provision in the Treaty by which German property is made available for certain claims in respect of war action taken by the Austrian Government, it was not felt at the time that the Treaties were made that it would be equitable to compel individual Germans to pay pre-war debts of individual Austrians.