§ 55. Mr. KILEYasked the Prime Minister the amount which has now been collected under the German Reparation (Recovery) Act; whether German exporters have refused to accept half of the price in full payment for their goods; whether, in practice, the whole price has been paid, and the Customs have demanded its equivalent payment of the 50 per cent. under the Act; and whether the payment is equivalent to 100 per cent. duty, and is paid by the British importer?
§ Sir R. HORNEThe amount received by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise under the German Reparation (Recovery) Act up to the 21st instant inclusive was £19,000. I understand that in some cases British importers have paid the German exporters the full invoice price of the goods. As to the amount payable to the Commissioners in such a 29 case, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for West Edinburgh (Mr. Jameson) on the 9th instant.
§ Sir R. HORNEI do not know of any which is being reclaimed.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODCan the right hon. Gentleman say how much of it is being presented to the French Government?
§ Sir R. HORNENone of it is being presented to the French Government.
§ 62. Mr. NEWBOULDasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of Germany's acceptance of the Allied ultimatum, the sanctions already applied in consequence of her refusal to accept the Paris Agreement will now be withdrawn?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI cannot add anything to the very full statement which was made on the whole of this subject by the Prime Minister on the 5th May.
§ 56. Mr. KILEYasked the Prime Minister whether, under the new reparation proposals accepted by Germany, the payment of 25 per cent. in respect of German exports will be demanded in respect of goods upon which payments of 50 per cent. are made under the German Reparation (Recovery) Act and similar legislation in other countries; and, if not, whether he can state how the discrimination between the different classes of goods will be made?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINIf the hon. Member will refer to the schedule of payments prescribed by the Reparation Commission and accepted by the German Government, he will see that the levy of 25 per cent. provided for in paragraph 7 (b) is not to be applied upon exports on which a levy of not less than 25 per cent. is applied under legislation of the character of the German Reparation (Recovery) Act. It will be for the German Government to make their own arrangements to exempt such exports from the levy to be made by them in Germany.
§ 65. Mr. A. M. SAMUELasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that during 1920 the average 30 monthly registrations of box and willow calf and patent leather from the Netherlands were £900 and £200, respectively, and from Germany £28,000 and £20,000, respectively; that in March, 1921, the corresponding registrations from the Netherlands were £106,000 and £34,000, whereas those from Germany were £6,139 and £9,726; and that leather experts in this country think that the leather in question was manufactured in Germany; and whether he is satisfied that the duty chargeable on this leather under the German Reparation (Recovery) Act has been duly collected?
§ Sir R. HORNEThe German Reparation (Recovery) Act, 1921, takes effect only as regards goods imported after the 31st March, 1921. The danger apprehended by the hon. Member is guarded against by a system of Consular Certificates of Origin.
§ 49. Captain W. BENNasked the Prime Minister whether the 26 per cent. to be collected under the German Reparation (Recovery) Act will be levied as an ordinary customs duty or in the same way as the 50 per cent. has hitherto been collected?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe 26 per cent. to be collected under the German Reparation (Recovery) Act will be levied in the same way as the 50 per cent. has hitherto been collected; but the German Government has now undertaken to repay the amount so collected to the exporter.
§ 58. Mr. RAFFANasked the Prime Minister whether he can state in which of the Allied countries legislation similar to the German Reparation (Recovery) Act is now in operation?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI understand that legislation similar to the German Reparation (Recovery) Act is now in actual operation in France, Rumania, and Serbia.
§ 59. Mr. RAFFANasked the Prime Minister whether he will agree to the appointment of a Committee or Commission to inquire into the effect upon the exchanges of the liability for and payment of reparations by Germany, and of the liability for and payment of external debt by Allied countries, as well as the probable effect of the legislation to be founded on the safeguarding of industries Resolutions?