§ Sir J. Smythasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance when the distribution of the Japanese assets under Article 16 of the Peace Treaty with Japan is likely to be made.
§ Mr. WoodI understand that the International Committee of the Red Cross which is responsible under the terms of the Peace Treaty for distributing the money to the appropriate national agencies has now obtained from the various beneficiary countries lists of their prisoners of war. The necessary checking of these lists is taking the Committee longer than it expected, and I am informed that it will be several months before it completes its work. It is unlikely, therefore, that my Department, as national agency for the United Kingdom, will receive its allocation from the Committee in time to be able to make a distribution before the end of the year.