§ Mr. JOHNasked the Prime Minister whether he is able to state the losses of the German armies in killed, wounded, and missing; whether the Government will state the aggregate British losses up to 31st October; whether the Government is in a position to estimate, approximately, the losses of the other allied Powers and of Austria; whether it is the purpose of the Allies, after the expulsion of the German forces from Belgium, French, and Russian territory, to continue this conflict until the subjugation and disintegration of both the German and the Austrian Empires have been effected; and whether, upon the withdrawal of the hostile armies from the allied territories, the Allies will formulate and make public such conditions of settlement as will, in their judgment, ensure permanent peace, the effective establishment of international law, the cessation of competitive expenditure upon military and naval equipment, and the early repudiation of Prussian militarist policy by the people of Germany?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe British casualties in the Western area of the War up to 31st October are, approximately, 57,000 of all ranks. The Government are not in a position to estimate the losses of the other allied Powers, nor those of the enemy.
As regards the other matters mentioned in the question, I must refer my hon. Friend to what I have said publicly on this subject both in this House and elsewhere.