§ 49. Mr. LAMBERTasked the Prime Minister if any responsible offer has been made to pay reasonable War reparation by the German Government; if so, what sum was offered; and what is the sum His Majesty's Government consider it is within Germany's capacity to pay?
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHIs not the word "reasonable" in this question controversial, as to what is reasonable, and would it not be better to leave it out of the question?
§ Mr. LAMBERTIn asking this question may I say that "reasonable" is not a stunt word?
§ Major BOYD-CARPENTERMy right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is not aware of any offer which is not already public property. He sees no use in considering whether the offers in March and April, 1921, were responsible and reasonable at the time they were made. They are two years old and subject to conditions, e.g., as regards Silesia which cannot now be fulfilled. The German tentative plan of December, 1922, and his reply that it could not be considered satisfactory have been published (Command Paper 1812, pages 57 to 60). In the same Paper, page 68, and in his reply to the hon. Member for East Dorset on the 19th March last, my right hon. Friend has given all the information he has about the German overture at Paris which did not become an offer for the reasons he has repeatedly stated. As regards the third part of the question, the sum which we considered in January to be within Germany's capacity to pay was £2,500,000,000. Whether subsequent events have reduced that capacity is a matter which my right hon. Friend would want thoroughly examined by experts before coming to any conclusion.