§ 1. Mr. GILBERTasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether British subjects are allowed to visit British occupied territory in Germany; whether any special visa or permit is required on an ordinary passport in order to visit Cologne and adjacent parts of the Rhine; and will he state if such permits are freely granted by the British passport officers?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Ponsonby)The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The passports of British subjects require to be endorsed for occupied territory by a British passport office, but no visa is required. Such endorsements are granted freely for temporary visits.
§ 2. Mr. GILBERTasked the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that foreign timetables give no railway connections with British Continental services and the Ruhr 2894 district of Germany; and can he make any statement as to the facilities open to British travellers who desire to visit this part of Germany?
§ Mr. PONSONBYThe answer to the first part of this question is in the affirmative. In regard to the second part, British travellers desiring to visit the Ruhr district can obtain, in Great Britain, through tickets to Cologne or the nearest frontier station, where re-booking is necessary to any further destination on the railway system which is at present worked by the Franco-Belgian Railway Régie. The hon. Gentleman is doubtless aware that the successful conclusion of the negotiations at present being conducted in London should lead, among other things, to the restoration of normal railway services in the Ruhr district.
§ Mr. GILBERTIs it necessary for travellers who wish to go to the Ruhr district to obtain permits or visas from the French Consulate in London?
§ Mr. PONSONBYI am afraid that I must have notice of that question.