§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what body is responsible for enforcing the terms of the Treaty of Peace with Austria and, in particular, the provisions of Article 224; and what action is being taken with regard to Article 224?
Mr. HARMSWORTH:As the hon. and gallant Member is aware, the Treaty of Peace with Austria is not yet in force, the Treaty having not yet been ratified. In general, its enforcement will be guaranteed by the Allied and Associated Powers. As regards Article 224, the hon. and gallant Member will see, from Section 5 of that article, that the Reparation Commission is entrusted with special responsibilities in connection with its execution. With regard to the last part of the question, action does not become obligatory until the ratification of the Treaty. Nevertheless, commercial agreements for the supply of coal and oil-fuel have been concluded with Austria by Czecho-Slovakia and Poland. It is true that these agreements have not been fully carried out. But His Majesty's Government have done and will continue to do everything in their power to promote and encourage the execution of such agreements and to mitigate the difficulties that stand in their way.