§ 76 and 77. Major COURTHOPEasked the Prime Minister (1) whether he is aware that there are British firms owning property in the devastated areas of France and Belgium who cannot finance the rebuilding and equipment of their ruined factories without some guarantee that they will eventually receive reparation for damage done during the War; and whether His Majesty's Government will give an assurance that they will insist upon the payment of proper compensation in such cases;
(2) whether the Reparation Commission in Paris will deal with the claims of British subjects and firms for compensa- 659 tion for the destruction of property situated in the devastated areas of France and Belgium?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Chamberlain)The British claims in respect of property in France or Belgium carried off, seized, injured, or destroyed by the acts of Germany, or of damage directly in consequence of hostilities, or of any operations of war, will be presented by His Majesty's Government to the Reparation Commission through the British Reparation Commission. His Majesty's Government is not, of course, in a position to say what the Commission will or will not do as regards claims presented to it, but the right to claim compensation from Germany in respect of the damage referred to is expressly given by Clause 9 of Annex 1 to the Reparation Clauses of the Treaty of Peace.