§ Mr. CLOUGHasked the President of the Board of Trade what is meant by verification in respect to properly lodged claims for British-owned German Government and municipal bonds and unpaid coupons that have been in continuous custody of British banks in Britain for British-born owners since before the War and until lodged with the British Clearing House; and whether a verification to that effect by the British banks concerned would fulfil all Treaty obligations in respect to verification of nationality, place of residence, and continuous ownership, and so prevent further procrastination in repayment in order to meet the convenience of the German authorities?
§ Sir R. HORNEThe German Clearing Office is entitled to contest any claim of the kind in question unless it is satisfied of the identity of the bond or coupon, as to the nationality of the creditor that he was resident in this country on the date of the coming into force of the Treaty, and that he has been owner of the bond o[...] coupon since the outbreak of war. I am not aware whether the German Office would accept a certificate by a British bank without making any examination of its own, but the hon. Member will observe that the certificate suggested by him would not cover the first and third points mentioned above.