§ 15. Mr. CAREWasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can take any steps to expedite the payment by the German authorities of substantiated claims of those persons whose luggage was confiscated by the Germans at the outbreak of the war and afterwards sold by them; and can he say why claim P.R.I. 1,665, registration No. 77, submitted in October, 1914, has not yet been satisfied?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Baldwin)I have been asked to reply. Every effort is being made by His Majesty's Government to expedite the settlement of claims It is of course always open to claimants to refer their claims to the Mixed Arbitral Tribunal for adjudication. Claim P.R.I. 1,665, was forwarded to Germany with the first batch of claims. The German authorities made a request for production of the luggage voucher, with which the claimant was unable to comply, but evidence has been since supplied by her which should facilitate the identification of the luggage in question. With regard to the payment of claims for compensation, I would refer to my reply to the hon. Member for Newcastle North on the 13th instant.
§ Mr. CAREWIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the registration number was forwarded to the clearing office, and was lost by them; and how long will the German Government be allowed to flout claims of this sort?
§ Mr. BALDWINI have no knowledge as to the first part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question. With regard to the second part we are doing all we can on this side.