HC Deb 30 November 1922 vol 159 cc888-9
48. Mr. HANNON

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the aggregate cost of the Armies of Occupation in Germany since the Armistice; and what has been the average cost per man per day, respectively, of the British, French, Belgian, and American Armies of Occupation?

Mr. BALDWIN

I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement in answer to this question.

The statement promised is as follows:

The total cost of each Army of Occupation from the Armistice up to 30th April, 1922, was:

National Currencies.

Figures cannot be given for any period subsequent to 30th April, 1922, as by the Agreement of the 11th March, 1922, it was decided to limit the annual charge against Germany to a definite figure, irrespective of the actual cost to each country. This maximum (excluding the Army of the United States as that Gov- ernment was not a signatory to the March Agreement) is 220,000,tW0 gold marks, divided provisionally as follows:

It is impossible, without an elaborate calculation, to give the average cost per man per day over the whole period, but the rates for April, 1922, were:

66. Captain ARTHUR EVANS

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion, if any, of the £54,000,000, which is the cost of the Army of Occupation on the Rhine since the Armistice, has been paid by the German Government; and will he inform the House what steps His Majesty's Government is taking to ensure the payment of this sum?

Mr. BALDWIN

Practically the whole of the £54,000,000 to which the hon. Member refers has already been paid by the German Government.