§ 16. Sir J. BUTCHERasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that many British merchants and traders, whose property and businesses in Germany were seized and liquidated by the German authorities during the War, have been unable to obtain delivery of their books and documents in accordance with Article 13 of the Annex to Article 297 of the Treaty of Versailles, and that by reason of such non-delivery such British merchants and 1490 traders have been unable to prepare accounts and to formulate their claim for compensation and restoration of property; whether he is aware that Clause 6 of the Agreement of 31st December, 1920, between the British and German Governments respecting Article 297 of the Treaty, so far from facilitating the delivery of such books and documents, seriously prejudices the rights in relation thereto conferred on British nationals by the Treaty; and whether the ratification of such agreement will be postponed until the House of Commons has had an opportunity of discussing it?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI have been asked to reply. In a few cases where property has been liquidated by the German authorities, claimants have experienced difficulty in recovering their books, owing to the fact that the books have been sold with the businesses. Representations have been made to the German authorities on the matter, and already in one case the books have been recovered. Article 6 of the Agreement provides that where property has been liquidated, all the documents shall be handed over immediately upon the application of the former British owner. In other cases summaries are to be furnished at once, but the detailed documents are ordinarily only to be returned at the same time as the property itself. I do not think that this provision can operate to delay the preparation of any claim for compensation, which could not in any case be formulated until the owner had taken back and examined his property. It is not intended to ratify the Agreement on behalf of this country until Germany has ratified.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERWhy, if it is not intended to ratify this Agreement, Article 15 says: "The Agreement shall be ratified, and that ratification shall be exchanged in London as soon as possible"?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONIf the hon. Baronet looks at my answer, he will see I did not say it was not intended to ratify the Agreement. I said it was not intended to ratify it, so far as this country was concerned, until Germany had ratified.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERWill the House of Commons be given an opportunity of considering how far this Agreement prejudices the rights of British traders before its ratification?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL - THOMSONObviously, that should be addressed to the Leader of the House.