The Prime Minister told the House of Commons on Wednesday
that the German Note to the Reparation Commission, which we discuss elsewhere, had relieved the situation. It may be noted also that the reactionaries in the Reichstag, who on Wednesday denounced Dr. Wirth for sending the Note and moved a vote of want of confidence, were beaten by a sub- stantial majority. Mr. Lloyd George in his speech reminded Mr. Clynes that the Labour leaders at the General Election had been as much in favour of exacting reparation from Germany as the older parties were. He pointed out-that the Reparation Commission had full power to-deal with-requests from Germany for delay or for an abatement. The Commission would, he said, have been much more effective had America ratified -the 'Pestle Treaty and sent a delegate, as was intended. Mr. Lloyd George declined 'to consider -the suggestion -that we should cancel all our loans to, Allies and renounce our share of repara- tions, amounting to £3,000,000,000 in all, unless indeed our external debts of £1,000,000,000 were remitted. We stood, as always in the past, for a policy of moderation towards our defeated enemies, but we meant,to see the Peace Treaty felfilled.
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