§ 9. Mr. PONSONBYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many military officers, civilian officials, and clerical workers, male and female, are employed under the Rhineland High Commission in controlling the civilian administration of the German occupied territory?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONThe British department of the Rhineland High Commission at Coblenz numbers 31 all told, of both sexes, of whom 22 are clerks, shorthand-typists, messengers, telephonists, and chauffeurs. There is only one military officer on the British staff who was seconded for service as Deputy High Commissioner, and is shortly retiring from the Army. Fifteen more British subjects are employed on the Inter-Allied Secretariat-General of the High Commission. I have no precise information as to the strength of the French and Belgian departments at Coblenz. I cannot accept the suggestion of the hon. Member that any part of the staff of the Rhineland High Commission is engaged in controlling the civilian administration of the German occupied territory. If he will look at Articles 2, 3 and 5 of the Rhineland Agreement of the 28th June, 1919, he will see what are the rights and duties of both the Rhineland High Commission and the German civil administration in connection with the occupation.
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD BENNIs it not a fact that the Rhineland High Commission is engaged in such enterprises as prohibiting bands of music and confiscating Proclamations?