§ 6. Mr. PONSONBYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any Report has been received with regard to complaints about the misconduct of coloured troops in the Palatinate; and whether any representations have been made by His Majesty's Government on this subject?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThere are no British troops in the Palatinate, which is occupied by the. French exclusively, and any indiscipline that may occur among the occupying troops, whether coloured or white, is a matter for the French authorities, and, according to my information, is dealt with by them adequately and even rigorously when proved. I may, however, add that allegations of misconduct by coloured French troops in occupied Germany have been a not uncommon form of German propaganda in the past, but that reports received from the British High Commissioner suggest that they have often been made on the flimsiest basis, and on investigation have proved to be unsupported by evidence. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. PONSONBYHas the right hon. Gentleman seen some of the recent reports of outrages on German women by coloured troops?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI have read quite recently a report, upon which my answer to the hon. Gentleman is based.