HC Deb 27 October 1947 vol 443 cc485-6
25. Mr. Stokes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why, in spite of the decision to end multilateral reparations on 27th September, Messrs. Th. Speckbotel, of Hamburg, were informed on 8th October that two lathes would be removed from their factory.

Mr. Mayhew

The delivery of multilateral reparations ended on 16th October, the date on which this decision was announced.

Mr. Stokes

Was it not widely announced in Germany that multilateral reparations would cease on 27th September? In view of that how does my hon. Friend reconcile the two dates?

Mr. Mayhew

I think that 27th September was the date for ceasing searching for multilateral deliveries, but I think that 16th October was the date on which the last delivery was allowed.

Mr. Henry Strauss

Can the hon. Gentleman say what are multilateral reparations?

Mr. Mayhew

An emergency scheme of stop-gap reparations to the Inter-Allied Reparations Agency.