§ 18. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now make a statement on the intentions of His Majesty's Government with regard to German property in the British zone of Austria.
Mr. McNeilThe ultimate disposal of German property in the British, French and United States zones of Austria is a matter for agreement between the Powers concerned, and is not for settlement by His Majesty's Government alone. The present position of German property in the British zone of Austria is that the administration of such property is being passed over to the Federal Ministry for Property Control and Economic Planning. This step, which is in accordance with the provisions of the Revised Control Agree- 176 ment, would have been taken earlier were it not for the fact that until recently the Austrian Government had no legislation under which public administrators could be appointed or controlled. The Austrian Government is prohibited from disposing of such property except with the sanction of the British occupying authorities.
§ Mr. FreemanCan the Minister say whether that arrangement is the same as that which has been concluded by the American Government?
Mr. McNeilI should prefer to say that rather similar arrangements have taken place in the American and French zones.