31. Colonel NEWMANasked the Secretary of State for War and Air whether under the terms of the Treaty of Peace the full cost of the Army of Occupation is to be paid for by Germany, including the cost of transportation by land and sea; whether soldiers of the Army of Occupation, when on leave from the Rhine to England, must now pay their own fares for the journey; and, if so, why officers and men on leave are not carried between the Rhine and Dover free of charge to themselves and the cost of such travel included in the costs payable by Germany?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSON.The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. If the hon and gallant Member's suggestion is that a restriction considered proper for the British Army everywhere else should not be applied to the Army of the Rhine, because the extra cost involved in the exception would be thrown on the German Government, I am afraid I cannot accept it.
Colonel NEWMANIs it not a fact that these officers are on active service? Why should they have to pay their fares?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONIf it was right that they should not pay their fares it might be right that we should add so much a week to their pay and charge it to the German Government. We must act fairly to the German Government.