33. Lieut.-Colonel A. MURRAYasked the Prime Minister whether any decision has yet been arrived at with regard to the granting of a moratorium, temporary or otherwise, to Germany?
§ 34. Mr. G. TERRELLasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Indian Government has now instructed its High Commissioner in London to buy all rail way requirements in the cheapest market; that, as a consequence of the dual value of the mark, German goods are being sold in India at prices which render British competition impossible; that, as a further consequence, there is great unemployment amongst the work-people of this country: and whether, seeing that the remedy for this unfair German competition is to be found in insisting that Germany shall, without further equivocation, in accordance with the resoltuions of the Reparation Commission, forthwith balance her Budget by the increasing of taxation and the withdrawing of all subsidies, he will say what definite steps the Government propose to take in the matter?
Mr. H. YOUNGIn reply to this question and the question in the name of the hon. Member for Chippenham, I would ask the hon. Members to await the statement that will be made on the subject of reparation during the Debate on the Appropriation Bill.
§ Mr. TERRELLIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this point does not arise on the question of reparation, but on the question of insisting upon Germany balancing her Budget, which is a matter directly affecting employment in this country?
Mr. YOUNGThe hon. Member's question contains a number of reasons and arguments, but these arguments would not he quite appropriate in the discussion of reparations.
§ Mr. TERRELLWill a statement be made by the Government as to its policy on this point?
§ Mr. TERRELLBut not on this point.
47. Mr. GIDEON MURRAYasked the Prime Minister whether he will lay upon the Table of the House, before the Appropriation Bill is taken, the Report of the Sub-committee of the Reparation Commission as to the condition of Germany and the attitude of the German Government?
Mr. YOUNGI understand that the main report of the Committee of Guarantees is not yet complete, and I have not yet seen it in any shape. All that has been produced thus far consists of a number of somewhat lengthy and technical documents, and in view of the prominence which has already been given in the Press to their main features, I do not think their reproduction in extenso would be justifiable.
Mr. MURRAYAre we in future to obtain information from the Press, and not from the Prime Minister on these important matters? How is it possible to debate this subject unless we have official papers laid on the matter?
Mr. YOUNGI do not know, but I imagine the papers on the Reparation Commission are available in the ordinary quarter. It is only a question as to when they should be produced, and as the Committee has not yet reported, it is premature in any case.
§ Lord R. CECILAt any rate, could the hon. Gentleman not place them in the Library?
§ Sir J. BUTCHERCannot the hon. Gentleman give any information to the House as to the questions of fact which have been before the Reparation Commission, such, for instance, as the open and avowed evasion of taxation by German industries?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not arise here.