§ Sir S. SCOTTasked the Attorney-General whether it is compulsory for a British subject to pay rent direct to an interned German for premises owned by the German, or whether the rent may be paid either to the Public Trustee or some other official appointed by the Government?
§ Sir G. HEWARTMy right hon. and learned Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, the case being covered by the decision of the Court of Appeal in Schaffenius v. Goldberg (1916, 1 K.B. 284). As regards the second part of the question the rent due to an interned German could not be paid to the Public Trustee unless a vesting order had first been made by the Board of Trade or by the Court, vesting that enemy subject's property in the Public Trustee as custodian. There is, of course, a Proclamation prohibiting payment to enemies interned in Holland.