§ 70. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any estimate of the amount of money that has been collected by the French Customs stations in the occupied districts of the Ruhr on the property of British merchants entering the Ruhr; whether any further progress has been made in the negotiations as to how this money is to be disposed of; and what steps are being taken to clear the matter up?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI am not yet able to add anything to previous replies on this subject.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYCan the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of my question as to what steps are being taken to clear up the matter?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSAs the hon. and gallant Gentleman must be aware, there were conversations quite recently between the British Ambassador in Paris and the French Premier, and a statement is to be made very shortly by the Prime Minister on the general subject.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYYes, but are we to understand that these conversations dealt with this particular point, affecting the money of British merchants?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSNo. I did not say so. I said a statement regarding the conversations will be made, and having regard to that, it would be improper for me to make any statement at the present moment on this particular question.