§ 18. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign 858 Affairs whether the question of the disposal of the money raised by import duties and tariffs on British goods entering the Ruhr since its original occupation by the French forces has been satisfactorily settled; if not, whether it will be brought up at the present Conference; and what it is proposed to do with this money?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe matters referred to by the hon. and gallant Member will need to be settled eventually by inter-Allied agreement; they are, however, clearly outside the scope of the present Conference, which is limited to the measures required for putting into force the Dawes plan.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that ever since the Ruhr was occupied British merchants have been mulcted with this tax, and that the previous Governments never did anything in the matter? Is he going to do anything?
§ Captain Viscount CURZONBefore the right hon. Gentleman answers that question, does the question really matter to us, as we are always told by the party opposite that the consumer always pays?
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYMay I have an answer? I endeavoured to ask a serious question.
§ The PRIME MINISTERMy attention was drawn from the serious question by the question which succeeded it. So far as this matter is concerned, it must await a settlement of the Dawes Report, which really is the beginning of a new relationship between ourselves, the French, and Central Europe. So far as it has been left unsettled by any previous Government, we will do our best to settle it.