§ Sir A. KNOXasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Inter-Allied Assessment Commission in Paris is composed of members who are neither legally qualified nor legally advised, and that the Commission is proceeding to reject certain claims of British claimants without affording those 52W claimants the opportunity to substantiate their claims; and will he consider this situation?
§ Lieut.-Colonel A. McDONNELLasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that at the Inter—Allied Assessment Commission in Paris only claimants of large amounts have their claims referred to jurists, while claimants of small amounts have their claims rejected without the opportunity of a hearing and without opportunity of having a claim of equal merit with a large claim referred to jurists for decision on the very involved questions of law arising under the Convention?
§ Mr. McNEILLUnder Article 4 of the Convention of 23rd November, 1923, for the Assessment of Damage suffered in Turkey, it is for the Inter-Allied Assessment Commission in Paris to lay down its own procedure in such manner as may ensure the prompt settlement of claims. Over 15,000 claims have been submitted to the Commission, and the procedure to be adopted in individual cases is a matter which the Commission alone is entitled to decide. The Commission (one of the members of which is a Judge) are advised by a Committee of Jurists, and I am aware of no foundation for the suggestion that there has been unfair discrimination between different classes of claimants, whether as regards reference to the jurists or as regards an opportunity for the substantiation of claims.