§ 58. Mr. N. BUXTONasked the Prime Minister whether, having regard to the fact that the German Government intimated in a note to the Government of the United States of America on 26th April, 1921, that it was prepared to pay for reparations a sum equal to £2,500,000,000 sterling, and that on 3rd January, 1923, His Majesty's Government estimated Germany's capacity to pay at the same figure, he will state what action, if any, His Majesty's Government have taken in regard to the German offer of April, 1921?
§ Mr. BALDWINI do not see what action it is supposed the Government could take on an offer to another Government which is two years old and subject to conditions such as the retention of Silesia which cannot now be fulfilled. The Government submitted to the Paris Conference in January last a comprehensive plan for dealing with the reparation situation as it then was, but it was not forwarded to Germany for the reason that the other Allies did not accept it.
§ Mr. BUXTONIs it not likely that delay will lead to a further diminution of Germany's power to pay?
§ Mr. BALDWINI think that is possible.