§ 46. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister the amount of money involved, in sterling, in the American demand for payment of the costs of the American Army of Occupation in Germany; whether this demand will affect the distribution and allocation of the moneys received from Germany now being made, and, if so, to what extent; and what is being done now with the periodical payments now being made by Germany?
§ Sir R. HORNEThe amount claimed is approximately 241 million dollars, which, at the present rate of exchange, is equivalent to about £54,773,000. In reply to the second and third parts of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave to him on the 21st instant.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that he made no reply on that occasion?
§ Sir R. HORNEOn the contrary, I stated quite accurately what was the situation.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that he then took refuge in the fact that we had not had an official Note from the United States Government, and can he now say whether we are distributing the money we are receiving from Germany just as was the case before the Note arrived?
§ Sir R. HORNEJust as I answered my hon. and gallant Friend on the previous occasion, the amount which is coming from Germany now is going into the hands of the Reparation Commission.
Colonel LAMBERT WARDIs it the intention of the Reparation Commission to admit the preposterous claim of the United States?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. and gallant Gentleman ought not to put in adjectives of that sort.