§ 69. Mr. WALLHEADasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the amount and value of coal paid over by Germany in 1926–27 under the reparation clauses of the Treaty of Versailles to the various countries concerned in such payment; and when these payments under the treaty ceases?
Mr. SAMUELAs the reply is a long one and contains many figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ I am informed that the deliveries of coal effected by Germany under Annex V to the reparation clauses of the Treaty of Versailles in the third year of the Dawes Annuity (1st September, 1926, to 31st August, 1927) amount to 2,778,485 metric tons, the estimated value, including the cost of transport to the German frontier, being 58,898,905 gold marks. These deliveries were effected exclusively to France. In addition, deliveries of coal were made by Germany on reparation account during this period, under the system of commercial contracts provided for by the London Agreement of August, 1924, to an estimated amount of 6,363,647 metric tons to France (provisionally valued at 127,702,321 gold marks) and 2,650,165 metric tons to Italy (provisionally valued at 54,490,485 gold marks). The option for deliveries of coal 1225 to the Allied Powers under the Treaty lasts for 10 years. The exact date of its termination has not been settled, but will presumably be the 31st January, 1930. No limit of time is laid down in the London Agreement for the delivery of coal on reparation account by means of commercial contracts. The foregoing figures include deliveries of coke and lignite at their coal equivalent.