ALLIED TROOPS (OCCUPIED AREAS).

HC Deb 10 February 1926 vol 191 cc1019-20

15. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether agreement has been reached for the reduction of the numbers of the Allied troops in the occupied areas of Germany; and when a reduction may be expected?

35. Mr. PONSONBY

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the present size of the armies of occupation in the Rhineland; to what figure are they to be reduced; and what will be the proportion of British, French and Belgian troops, respectively?

Sir A. CHAMBERLAIN

I will answer these questions together. The numbers of the armies of occupation are actually 74,500, or very close to that figure, but it is not the case, as stated in some newspapers a little time ago, that the Governments of the occupying Powers had decided to fix at or about this figure the total of the effectives in the second and third zones. In the note of the Conference of Ambassadors of the 14th November it was stated that the effectives would be considerably reduced, and that the reduction would be to a figure approaching the normal. This remains the policy of the occupying Powers, who are giving their attention to the various problems involved in it, with a view to giving effect to it by an appreciable reduction of the actual numbers when the Treaties of Locarno are ratified and the measures of amelioration already introduced into the régime of occupation have had their natural pacifying effect on the situation in the occupied territory.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

I am sorry to press the right hon. Gentleman, but can I have an answer to the second part of my question—can he state when this reduction will begin?

Sir A. CHAMBERLAIN

I cannot more exactly define the time than I have already done in the insw er which I have just read.

Mr. PONSONBY

Would the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of my question—as to the proportion of the troops?

Sir A. CHAMBERLAIN

I am very sorry that I overlooked that, and I am afraid I have not the figures with me, but roughly there are 60,00 French, 8,000 British, and the remainder Belgian.