§ 51. Mr. MORELasked the Prime Minister if he is aware that the effect of the latest measures adopted by the French military authorities in the Ruhr and Rhineland has been to isolate the British Army in the British-occupied area except where it faces the Rhine; whether the British-occupied area, except the river frontage, is surrounded by barbed wire and guarded by French soldiers; whether British subjects desiring to enter or to leave the British-occupied area are, in fact, free to do so; whether, in view of these measures and of the influx into the British-occupied area of numerous families expelled by the French military 919 authorities from the Ruhr, there is reason to anticipate a serious shortage of food supplies in this area; and whether the officer commanding the British troops in that area has recently reported as to the increasing difficulties of the situation in which the British Army is placed?
§ 53. Mr. TREVELYANasked the Prime Minister if German railwaymen and their families, expelled from the Ruhr by the French military authorities, are taking refuge in the British occupied area; and if he has received any report from the British officer commanding our troops in that area as to the threatened shortage of food supply, affecting both the civil population and the British troops?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Gwynne)I have been asked to reply to these questions. So far as I am aware, no recent measures taken by the French have materially affected the situation of the British Army on the Rhine. I am not aware of any restriction on the freedom of movement of British subjects entering or leaving the British zone, or of any influx of refugees, or of any anticipated food shortage. No special reports have been received from the local military authorities on any of these matters.