THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 March 1921, Page 2

THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

IN THE COMMONS. ICSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION LONDON, March 14 In the House of Commons, Mr As qv.ith said lie could re-echo Mr Chambei lain’s statement that there was abso lately no difference of opinion in tin House, or outside, regarding the justice of the claim made against Germany The question was, however, purely om of practicability and expediency. Bu they must he careful not to extract tin payment in a form injurious to them selves. The. German exporter might b able to wriggle out of the imposition o tho tax by raising the price of hi goods. The question of, the origin o goods also presented a difficulty. H had the greatest misgiving as t whether so complicated a set of nni chinerv would he found worth while. Colonel Wedgewood Benn considers that, instead of swamping Britain wit cheap German goods, the Allies shoul seize German ground rents and royal ties in German coal mines and the Ivie Canal. Mr Lloyd George ridiculed Mr Bot tomley’s and Colonel Benn’s proposals which would he said, involve the main tenance of an army of occupatio throughout Germany. Even if the stayed in Berlin till Germany accepted they would come back to a paper agree ment, which was perfectly futile. Di, Mr Bottomley imagine they coni march into Germany and briitg back th mines and forests on lorries? (laugh ter). If Germany declined to honou their Treasury receipt, the Bill wont ; j have the effect of automatically excluc : ing goods which the Allies did not rea i |y need. Great industrial concerns i ! Germany were making huge profits on ; 0 f the difference between the price a | which they could sell in the market. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. LONDON, March 14. Hun. Lloyd George, speaking in th Commons said Switzerland had with drawn her objection to the passage o League troops. Sir E. Horne replying to the ques tion, said imports into Britain fron Germany last year valued at £81,073 . 000 sterling apd exports Germany £2l 585.000,