§ Mr. PONSONBYasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the distress occasioned in Bulgaria by the recent earthquakes and fires, and the inability of the Government to cope with the situation owing to, among other things, its heavy obligations under the head of reparation, His Majesty's Government will be prepared to renounce, in whole or in part, their share of such reparation or, alternatively, if such renunciation would involve too prolonged negotiations, whether they would be willing to hand over to the Bulgarian Government for the purpose of relief some or all of the reparation received, or in future to be received by them?
Mr. SAMUELUnder Article 122 of the Treaty of Neuilly the inter-Allied Com-1054W mission at Sofia have discretion to recommend to the Reparation Commission of Paris a reduction or postponement of reparation payments after considering the resources and capacity of Bulgaria and giving her representatives an opportunity to be heard. The inter-Allied Commission are at present considering what recommendation to make in accordance with this Article in view of the recent earthquakes. His Majesty's Government are willing to agree to a postponement, provided that the other Governments concerned do so, and most of them have in fact already expressed their readiness to consent.