§ 49. Commander BELLAIRSasked the Prime Minister, in view of the exaggerated ideas as to the armaments now at the disposal of Germany, whether he can give the latest figures of the Commission of Control as to the airplanes, guns, machine-guns, and rifles destroyed; and how these compare with the full expectations of the Commission?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Lieut.-Colonel Stanley)I have been asked to answer this question. The latest report from the Inter-Allied Military Commission of Control shows that
33,484 guns and barrels of all kinds have been surrendered, and 33,410 have been destroyed up to date: in addition, 6,051 guns under construction were destroyed by the Germans prior to control; the records have been checked by the Commission: 87,377 machine-guns have been surrendered and 87,351 have been destroyed up to date; 4,382,839 rifles and carbine; have been surrendered and 4,369,330 have been destroyed up to date.
The Commission consider that all important stocks or surplus war material in Germany have been surrendered for destruction, and that only a negligible number of guns, machine-guns and rifles may still be hidden by extremist parties. The Inter-Allied Military Commission of Control have accomplished far more than the members of the Commission themselves considered possible at the outset of their work.
353 The aeronautical disarmament of Germany was recognised as complete by the Allies on the 5th February last. On that date, 14,731 aeroplanes had been surrendered and 14,260 destroyed. The Aeronautical Commission of Control has since been withdrawn.