§ 53. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the terms of reference under which the committee of experts on reparations are to work; and, if no terms of reference have been laid down, what precisely they have been asked to report upon?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe terms of reference of the committee are as follow:—
The Belgian, British, French, German, Italian and Japanese Governments, in pursuance of the decision reached at Geneva on 16th September, 1928, whereby it was agreed to set up a Committee of Independent Financial Experts, hereby entrust to the Committee the task of drawing up proposals for a complete and final settlement of the Reparation problem; these proposals shall include a settlement of the obligations resulting from the existing Treaties and Agreements between Germany and the Creditor Powers. The Committee shall address its Report to the Governments which took part in the Geneva decision and also to the Reparation Commission.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODThere is, then, nothing in the terms of reference which reopens the question of War debts at all?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI think that it would be a great mistake for me to try to give an interpretation of the terms of reference which have been agreed to between so many Powers.