HC Deb 08 May 1923 vol 163 cc2161-3
Mr. J. RAMSAY MacDONALD

Can the Chancellor of the Exchequer now make any statement regarding the German Note as to the occupation of the Ruhr?

Mr. BALDWIN

The German Note, which has already appeared in the Press, was handed by the German Ambassador to the Foreign Secretary on the afternoon of the 2nd May. It was a Note addressed not merely to the French and Belgian Governments, but to the principal Allied Powers.

As such, it was the view of His Majesty's Government that the best and most natural course of procedure would be to return a concerted reply from the Governments of Great Britain, France, Italy and Belgium—the more so as the German Note was in response to a suggestion which had been made to them publicly and officially by the Foreign Minister of the British Government, and as the problem involved, namely, that of reparations, is one in which the Allied Powers, and not France and Belgium alone, are deeply concerned.

Nor, in the opinion of His Majesty's Government, need any insuperable difficulty have been experienced in drawing up a collective reply, reserving for separate treatment by the Belgian and French Governments, if they so desired, the questions arising directly out of the recent occupation of German territory by their military forces.

His Majesty's Government had reason to believe that these views were shared by some of their Allies, and they were quite prepared to make proposals to this effect, having already communicated their general idea to the Allied Governments, when they were officially informed that the French and Belgian Governments had already drawn up a joint reply from themselves alone, the text of which was communicated to His Majesty's Government on Saturday afternoon with the intimation that it would be presented 24 hours later to the German Ambassadors at Paris and Brussels.

His Majesty's Government regretted what appeared to them to be the unnecessary precipitancy of this step, as well as the loss of the opportunity, which in their opinion had been presented, of once more testifying by a joint communication to the solidarity of the Allied Entente.

They do not, however, feel dispensed from the obligation of stating their own views in reply to the German Note, and this they propose, with the least possible delay, to do. There is reason to believe that the Italian Government, whose attitude is in general accord with that of His Majesty's Government, contemplate a similar procedure. As soon as the British reply has been communicated to the German Government, it will be published.

Mr. PRINGLE

Will the right hon. Gentleman be able to give any further indication of the nature of the British reply before Thursday, or in the course of Thursday's Debate?

Mr. BALDWIN

I cannot say at this moment.

Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY

Was this Note sent to the United States Government? Are we in communication with that Government, or are we going to get into communication with them in the matter?

Mr. BALDWIN

I cannot answer the first part of the question without notice.