45. Lieut.-Colonel MURRAYasked the Prime Minister whether, having regard to the fact that, although when the reparation duty imposed upon German goods was sanctioned by Parliament it was understood that the Allies had agreed to take joint action in the matter, neither France, Belgium, nor Italy has yet imposed such a duty, and that if a French, Belgian or Italian merchant buys goods from Germany and then sends them to this country no reparation duty is levied, whereas if a British merchant buys and imports them direct from Germany duty is exacted, he will introduce legislation to abolish this anomaly?
§ Sir JOHN BAIRD (for Mr. Hilton Young)With regard to the position of German goods imported into this country from other countries, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to a question asked by the hon. Member for Whitechapel on the 4th instant. His Majesty's Government see no reason to introduce legislation to alter the existing provisions of the Reparation (Recovery) Act, which has served as a means of collecting from the German Government on account of its liabilities under the Reparation Chapter of the Treaty of Versailles a sum of over £5,000,000 in a little over a Year.
Captain BENNDoes the hon Gentleman say that money has been collected from the German Government— Sir J. BAIRD: Yes.
§ Sir J. BAIRDNo.
Lieut.-Colonei MURRAYIn view of that statement will the hon. Gentleman consider the desirability of removing this particular anomaly?
§ Mr. KILEYIs the hon. Gentleman aware that in order to collect 5s. worth of reparation duty 7s. 6d. in costs are incurred? Why cannot his Department do the same as our Allies, and instead of this costly procedure receive payment in 1909 bulk, per month, or per quarter from the German Government, and so also save delay?
§ Sir J. BAIRDWe have got £5,000,000: I am afraid that our Allies have not.