HC Deb 15 February 1926 vol 191 cc1524-5
45. Major-General Sir J. DAVIDSON

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware that unless diplomatic action is taken immediately financial losses and a miscarriage of justice will result to British business men, and to British claimants generally, under the Inter-Allied Assessment Convention, in relation to the assessment and reparation of damage suffered in Turkey; that, notwithstanding that such claimants have been officially assured here that their complaints against the decisions and practice of the Inter-Allied Commission constitute a prima facie case, His Majesty's Government has refused to receive a deputation of such claimants, and has referred them to the Commission, who has refused to give information and proper access; what steps has the Government already taken, or is proposing to take, to protect the interests of its nationals; and will he state whether the functions of the British delegate are judicial or to advocate British claims, or both?

The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Ronald McNeill)

Under the Convention of 23rd November, 1923, relative to the Assessment and Reparation of Damage suffered in Turkey (Command Paper 2028), an inter-Allied Commission was set up to assess the damages suffered by British, French, Italian and Japanese nationals in Turkey, and to distribute the compensation fund to the parties concerned in proportion to the damage suffered by them. The Convention provides that the Commission shall lay down its procedure, and that its decisions shall be final; accordingly any representations which claimants desire to make in regard to the assessment of claims must be made to the Commission, and His Majesty's Government is not in a position to intervene. For this reason no official assurance on behalf of His Majesty's Government was, or could be, given to the claimants, who have recently made representations in regard to decisions of the Commission, as to the justification for their complaints; and they have in all cases been referred to the Commission, which alone is in a position to deal with the matter. I am informed that it is not the case that claimants have been refused information to which they are entitled, or proper access. Although the functions of the Commission are judicial, and it is not the duty of the national delegates to act as advocates of national claims, I understand that the British delegate gives British claimants every assistance in his power in regard to the presentation of their claims, and for this purpose he is ready to consider any representations in writing, supplemented, if necessary, by personal interview. It must, however, be pointed out that the Commission is required by this Convention to follow a procedure which will ensure the prompt settlement of claims, and that it has some 15,000 claims before it; accordingly, it is impossible for the Commission to give a formal hearing to all claimants, or even to the majority.

Sir J. DAVIDSON

Is the recently appointed delegate of the Commission bound in any way by the decision given by his predecessor on that Committee?

Mr. McNEILL

I could not answer without notice.

Sir S. HENN

Would the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs be willing to receive a deputation on this subject?

Mr. McNEILL

My hon. Friend had better put that question to the Foreign Secretary.

Sir F. WISE

Who pays the expenses of this Commission?

Mr. McNEILL

I could not answer without inquiry.