§ 19. Mr. HUDSONasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the provisions for the extraction from Germany of 26 per cent. of the value of goods exported from Germany to tins country will now be abrogated, in view of the refusal of the German Government to honour, since 17th November, 1923, further reparation receipts and the consequent imposition on British traders both of the 26 per cent. charge and other charges?
§ 44. Mr. HILLARYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action the Government has taken, or intends to take, in view of the refusal of the German Government to refund to German exporters the amount of the charge levied under the German Reparation (Recovery) Act?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Snowden)I am aware of the loss and inconvenience caused to British traders by the failure of the German Government to fulfil its obligations. This has formed the subject of strong protests both by the late and the present Governments. The German Government having failed to make any satisfactory proposals, renewed representations were made to them last week of which I expect to hear the result very shortly.
§ Mr. A. M. SAMUELMay I ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that goods from Germany are being offered in England through the Irish Free State? If that position of affairs is allowed to proceed, will it not reduce the whole of this arrangement to a screaming farce?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is a question which should be put on the Paper.
§ Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEIf the further representations which the right hon. Gentleman is making have no effect, what action does he propose to take?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is a hypothetical question.
§ Mr. PRINGLEWill not the Government consider repealing the Act altogether?
§ Mr. SNOWDENIf the negotiations which are now going on between this Government and Germany fail, then the whole thing will have to be considered.
§ Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINIs not that rather inviting the German Government to ignore the representations of this Government?
§ Mr. SNOWDENI should be very sorry indeed if any one except the right hon. Gentleman placed such an interpretation on my answer.
§ 42. Sir F. WISEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount Germany has paid to the Reparation Commission to date?
§ Mr. SNOWDENUp to 31st October, 1923, the latest date for which figures are available, Germany has been credited by the Reparation Commission in respect of costs of occupation and reparation with the total amount of 8,386 million gold marks, say £419,000,000, of which 1,831 million gold marks, say £92,000,000, was in respect of cash payments and the balance in respect of deliveries in kind and ceded State properties. In addition, paper marks have been supplied direct to the Armies of Occupation in the Rhineland to the value of, say, £32,000,000.
§ Sir K. WOODIn that figure, has there, been any sum included for the cost of the Army of Occupation?
§ Mr. SNOWDENI said so.
§ Captain BERKELEYCan the right hon. Gentleman subdivide the amount into what has been swallowed up by the Army of Occupation and what has been actually credited to Reparations Account?
§ Mr. SNOWDENThe hon. and gallant Gentleman cannot expect me to do that on the spur of the moment, 1 am sure, but if he would like the information I will ask if it is available.
§ Mr. PRINGLECan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the sum just stated includes the amount collected under the German Reparation (Recovery) Act in this country?
§ Mr. SNOWDENI must have notice of that question. The answer states that Germany has been credited by the Reparation Commission with a certain amount.