§ Mr. REMERasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he is aware that debts owing to British firms by Germans domiciled in Alsace-Lorraine are being paid for in marks instead of, as provided in the Peace Treaty, at their pre-war value; and whether, in view of the great hardship caused to British traders, he will see that remittances are made in accordance with the Peace Treaty?
§ Sir A. GEDDESI have been asked to reply. The provisions of the Treaty of Peace with Germany, under which prewar debts due to British subjects have to be discharged in sterling at the pre-war rate of exchange, do not apply in the case of persons resident in Alsace-Lorraine. In these circumstances, there is no power to compel the payment of debts referred to by my hon. Friend in sterling at the pre-war rate of exchange, and the settlement of such debts is a matter for private arrangement.