§ 55. Colonel CLAUDE LOWTHERasked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied that Germany does not possess to-day an army of over 1,000,000 men, either under the guise of Lands Reich, Cadetten Corps, Reds, police, or other synonyms?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWWe have no exact figures, but the question of numbers and its relation to the Peace Treaty is being dealt with by the Inter-Allied Military Commission of Control in Berlin.
§ Colonel LOWTHERHave the Government not even an approximate idea of the number of men under arms in Germany to-day, no matter under what guise they fight?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWWe have no absolutely reliable figures, but, of course, if constables and others are included the numbers are very large.
§ Colonel LOWTHERDoes the action of France surprise the British Government?
§ Mr. BILLINGHaving regard to the various rumours preyalent, both as regards the military forces in Germany and as to whether Germany is starving or not, will the Government appoint a Commission to visit Germany and to give an intelligent report on the actual position?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWWe already have a Commission, which will give all the information that it is possible to get.
§ Brigadier-General CROFTIs it not the case that all the police and other bodies to which the right hon. Gentleman refers are, in fact, trained soldiers?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI cannot say how many of them are, but it is precisely a point to be decided as to which of them are to be included.