§ 29. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister whether he is now in a position to make any statement on the subject of German reparation and the heavy fall in the German exchange; and when the next meeting of the Supreme Council will take place and where?
§ 31 and 32. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Prime Minister (1) whether the French Government are seeking to obtain the agreement of His Majesty's Government to proposals that we should cancel the debt owed by France to Great Britain; that the restoration of the devastated areas should be a prior charge on reparations instead of the costs of the Army of Occupation coming first, and that a loan should be made to Germany of which some proportion, even a half, should go to France for this prior charge; have any such proposals been entertained by His Majesty's Government;
(2) whether he will see that any question of the cancellation of the French debt is made dependent on the cancellation of armaments, particularly of all aeroplanes and submarines, weapons of offence which might be used against this country and involve us in heavy expense to counter?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Lloyd George)I understand that the question of reparation and that of inter-Allied debts is to he raised on the Appropriation Bill next week, when the Government will make a statement in reply.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYMay I have a reply to the last part of my question, as to the next meeting of the Supreme Council, particularly in regard to M. Poincaré's visit. Is he coming here, and, if so, when?
§ The PRIME MINISTERA difficulty has arisen in consequence of the ministerial crisis in Italy. Otherwise M. Poincare would be here next week. I cannot say when that crisis will he solved. The date will depend entirely on that fact.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWhen this question comes up next week, will the Prime Minister open the Debate with a statement dealing with these various points? Has the Prime Minister considered or received from the French Government any suggestions such as are mentioned in the first of my questions?
§ The PRIME MINISTERMy hon. and gallant Friend is just asking what I would rather defer answering until the discussion takes place. It is very difficult by question and answer to make a full, clear and satisfactory statement, especially when you are dealing with matters which affect foreign countries, and which are, therefore, capable of misinterpretation unless you explain them very fully. Therefore, I would rather not make a statement until then. With regard to the first question of my hon. and gallant Friend, I prefer taking part in the Debate after hearing what is said by all sections of the House.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIt is almost impossible to debate questions unless we know what negotiations have gone on and what the attitude of the Government is towards the negotiations. Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that, usually, when we have a Debate of this character we have some Papers before us showing what has taken place? Unless we can get answers to such questions as are on the Paper to-day it is impossible to conduct an intelligent Debate.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the country is looking for some authoritative statement, and is not interested in a debating match?
Mr. G. MURRAYWill the right hon. Gentleman arrange with the Foreign Office for the issue of Papers, as they have been issued in the past, in connection with these matters, and then we may know what is going on?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI really do not know what are the Papers which would be of the slightest use for the Debate. Whatever documents there may be are supplemented so much by interviews—the Reparation Commission and so forth—that I do not think they would be very useful.