63. Mr. TREVELYAN THOMSONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much, if any, of the 200,000 tons of new shipping which, under the Treaty of Versailles, Germany had to hand over to the Allies in the subsequent five years, has been received by us or by any of the Allies?
The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Guinness)The requirement of the Treaty, to which the hon. Member refers, was an option, to become effective in so far as the Reparation Commission might order. It has now lapsed. In fact, orders were given for only three ships on account of France and one ship on account of Italy, and these orders were subsequently cancelled, at the request of the interested Governments.