13. Mr. MALONEasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the fact that the Reparation Commission have received a reply to their last Note from Germany recognising the need to cover all outgoings without resorting to further inflation, stating that the German Government will before the 31st May submit to the Commission a complete financial scheme, and offering to afford to the Reparation Commission all facilities to investigate the state of German finances, whether he will state what steps the Commission are now taking to carry out this investigation; whether a Report thereon will be published; and whether any replies have yet been received to the communication addressed to Allied Governments owing war debts to this country concerning the transfer of inter-Allied debt responsibility to Germany?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Hilton Young)I understand that the Reparation Commission have received an answer from the German Government which is now under their consideration. I cannot say what the result of that consideration will be. No official communication has been made to the Allied Governments of the kind suggested in the last part of the question.
§ 26. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government has the assurance of the Government of the French Republic that they will take part in a conference on the question of German reparation before taking further military action against German territory?
Mr. CHAMBERLAIN (Leader of the House)No fresh assurances have been given or asked because none are required. Should the Reparation Commission report that Germany is in default, it will be necessary for the Allied Governments to confer together as to the action to he taken.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYWhen the right hon. Gentleman speaks of fresh assurances, does he mean that we had already assurances to this effect, and is he aware that the present policy is to march on the 31st unless an agreement is reached?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINNo: I am certainly not aware that the allegation in 536 the second part of the question is correct. I cannot conceive that it is. In regard to the first part we have a definite and explicit assurance from the French Government. After the occupation of Frankfort, I think it was in April, 1920, we received from the French Government the following declaration, "that as regards the future the Government of the Republic repeat that in all inter-Allied questions raised by the execution of the Treaty of Versailles there is no intention of acting save in accordance with its Allies."
§ 31. Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Prime Minister whether any communication has been received from the Government of the United States of America regarding the action to be taken by that Government, with or without the cooperation of the other Allied and Associated Powers, regarding the failure of Germany to satisfy the demands of the Reparation Commission on 31st May; and whether America has yet stated whether she will participate in the occupation of the Ruhr Valley should that measure be decided upon by the Allies as well as by France?