§ Sir G. JONESasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the reasons for which the Turkish Government have withdrawn its member of the Mixed Arbitral Tribunal constituted under Article 92 of the Treaty of Lausanne; what steps, if any, are being taken to have the tribunal reconstituted; whether he is aware that claims have been pending before the tribunal since 1926 and have not had a 2410W hearing; whether he will take steps to have the hearing of claims expedited; whether the Turkish Government have undertaken to implement the judgments of this tribunal by restoring properties to the persons held to be entitled thereto; and, if so, by what process are the judgments executed?
§ Mr. DALTONI have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend is unaware of the reasons for which the Turkish Government withdrew their member from the Anglo-Turkish Mixed Arbitral Tribunal as from 1st April. The work of the tribunal was not, however, appreciably delayed thereby, since a successor was appointed almost immediately. The second part of the Question, therefore, does not arise. Out of 558 claims origin ally lodged with the tribunal, only 87 now remain to be decided. The delay in most of these cases is due to the fact that it has been necessary to ask for further information from the claimants. Every effort is, however, being made to expedite the hearing of the claims which remain unheard. The Turkish Government have undertaken, in Article 94 of the Treaty of Lausanne, to regard the decisions of the Tribunal as final and conclusive, to render them binding upon their nationals, and to secure their enforcement in Turkey. Copies of the rules of procedure governing the execution of the Tribunal's judgments in Turkey are now being circulated to successful British claimants by the British Agent.