HC Deb 19 July 1922 vol 156 cc2051-2
11. Colonel NEWMAN

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in accordance with the Treaty of Saint Germain, the Reparation Commission appointed under Article 179 is still in existence; if so, when did it last meet;. whether it was by the authority of the Commission that a lien was given by Austria to certain of the Allied Powers on her valuable national possessions; whether this lien now operates against her being able to offer these possessions as collateral against the raising of a foreign loan; and, in view of the financial situation of Austria, will Great Britain and the other Allied Powers now forgo any lien they may possess in accordance with Clause 22 of Annex 2?

Sir J. BAIRD

The Austrian section of the Reparation Commission is still in existence, and meets at the headquarters of the Commission in Paris: the last meeting of which I am aware was held yesterday. The lien on Austrian assets in respect of the cost of reparation was imposed by Article 197 of the Treaty of Saint Germain, and not by the authority of the Reparation Commission, but this charge is subject to such exceptions as the Commission may make. I agree that the release or postponement for a long period of the lien on Austrian assets is very desirable, in order to enable her to offer assets as security for a foreign loan. His Majesty's Government, in common with the other principal Allied Governments, have been endeavouring for many months to obtain the consent of all the Powers entitled to Reparation from Austria to the release or postponement of the lien on Austrian assets, and renewed efforts to attain this object were recently made through the Conference of Ambassadors. It will not be necessary, in order to achieve this object, to amend Annex II to Part VIII (Reparation) of the Treaty of Saint Germain under the provisions of paragraph 22 of that Annex.

Colonel NEWMAN

Has the hon. Member seen the report in to-day's papers that, as a matter of fact, the Allied Powers have remitted their lien on these Austrian possessions?

Sir J. BAIRD

I have seen that report in the newspapers, but I am not quite certain whether it is correct. We have no confirmation of it.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Is it not a fact that this so-called Reparation Commission has been for many months a Relief Commission for suffering Austria, and ought it not to be so described in the future?

Sir J. BAIRD

I think there is a great deal in what the hon. and gallant Member says.