§ 47. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister whether any further communication has been received from the United States Government on the subject of the payment for the United 228 States Army of Occupation; whether this claim will affect the proposed allocation or distribution of the indemnity payments made and to be made by Germany; if so, in what way; and what is being done with the periodical payments made by Germany during the last two months?
§ Sir R. HORNEThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. In reply to the second and third parts of the question, I am unable to add anything to the answer given to a question on the same subject by the hon. and gallant Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Colonel Wedgwood), and the correspondence then circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT. In reply to the fourth part of the question, these payments are at present being dealt with by the Reparations Commission in accordance with the Inter-Allied Agreements.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYDo we understand, as regards the fourth part of the answer, that these payments are being distributed just as before, in spite of the altered conditions created by the United States Note?
§ Sir R. HORNEThere are no altered conditions created by the United States Note. The Reparations Commission is dealing with the whole matter.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWas not the distribution of this money arranged without any reference to the cost of the United States of America's Army of Occupation, and have not the conditions been altered?
§ Sir R. HORNEI think my hon. and gallant Friend would do better to read the particular terms of the communication from the United States before asking a question in that form.
§ Captain W. BENNDo the Reparation Commission recognise the right of the United States to any part of the money in their hands?
§ Sir R. HORNEThat is a question to put to the Reparation Commission. I would only remind my hon. and gallant Friend that the Reparation Commission is dealing with the matter under the Treaty of Versailles, and that the United States are not a party to that Treaty.
77. Sir F. HALLasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Note recently delivered by Mr. R. W. Boyden, 229 asking on behalf of the United States of America for payment of £50,000,000 in respect of the costs incurred by that country in occupying Germany, is the first indication that America intended to make a claim of this kind; what is the present strength of the American forces in Germany; what has been the total expenditure up to the 31st December last in respect of the British forces on the Rhine; whether any part of this expenditure has been repaid by Germany; and whether he will make a statement as to the Government's policy in this matter?
§ Sir R. HORNEThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. I understand that the present strength of the American forces in Germany is 2,700. In reply to the third and fourth parts of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to a question on this subject asked by the right hon. Member for the South Molton Division on the 23rd ultimo. In reply to the last part of the question, I am unable at present to add anything to the statement made on the 15th instant, in reply to a question by the right hon. and gallant Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme.