§ Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any official information showing that some 45,000 German troops are operating in Courland with the object of overthrowing the independence of the Baltic States; whether the maintenance of this army in the field accounts for the alleged inability of Germany to fulfil her treaty obligations to pay for the Army of Occupation on the Rhine during the current year; and, if so, what steps it is proposed to take to compel Germany to discharge her obligation in this respect'?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe evidence available shows that the strength of the German forces in the Baltic States is about 35,000. Of these, 15,000 are apparently willing to return to Germany. 1329W The remaining 20,000 have joined the pro-German Russian forces under Bermont, whom General Yudenitch has disowned and outlawed. I understand that some protests have been made in the German National Assembly against the costs of the Allied Armies of Occupation, but I am not aware of any official proposal by the German Government that Germany should not pay the cost of the upkeep o the Allied Armies of Occupation for 1919. The German Government state that pay, rations, and equipment have been cut off from the mutinous troops in the Baltic States.