§ 8. Captain SPENCER (for Mr. ATKINSON)asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the advisability of an entire cessation of claims by the custodian of enemy property to the private property of late enemy nationals; and whether he is prepared to take steps to effect such a cessation?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAThe policy of the Government in regard to ex-enemy property is embodied in various agreements concluded with the ex-enemy countries in 1929 and 1930, which provide, subject to certain defined exceptions, for a general release of property not already liquid or liquidated or finally disposed of. These settlements must be regarded as final, and I am unable to contemplate any modification of them. I would add that so far as Germany is concerned, the Agreement with Germany signed at Lausanne on the 9th July in no way affects the finality of the settlement of this matter agreed with the German Government in December, 1929.