§ 24. Colonel GRETTONasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if any progress has been made in the settlement of claims for reparation made by British subjects against the Turkish Government on account of damage done and property confiscated or requisitioned by the Turkish Government during the late War?
Mr. HARMSWORTHThe competent Departments of His Majesty's Government are considering this matter sympathetically, and a Royal Commission has recently been set up to secure that such action as may be possible is taken without any avoidable delay in respect of the claims of really necessitous British subjects who have suffered damage and loss through enemy action in various countries. Claims of British residents in Turkey are filed with the Reparation Commission and are being dealt with as quickly as circumstances permit, but it is clearly impossible to accord them preferential treatment over those of British subjects in other countries. It must, moreover, be borne in mind that the funds available for the settlement even of the most urgent claims are extremely limited.
§ Colonel GRETTONDo I understand that nothing has been done and no claims have been paid?
§ Sir J. BUTCHERIs there any property of Turkish nationals in this country 673 which would be available for the payment of these claims, and, if not, would the British Government make some advance in cases of great distress?