CO129-469 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1921 [9-12] — Page 13

MINUTES.

MINUTES NOT TO BE

ON THIS SIDE.

WRITTEN

}

N: 350.

sir,

11

54475

GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

HONGKONG. 10th September, 1921.

I have the honour to request instructions

amplifying paragraph 10 of the Annexe to Section III of the Treaty of Peace with Germany, which provides for the levying

of fines on claimants whose claims are not admitted in whole

or in part.

Instructions are particularly requested on

the following points:-

(a) Is the debt deemed not admitted when the German debtor

repudiates his liability?

(b) How is the time to be fixed seeing that it takes in

practice in many cases 12 months before the claim passes through the various offices into the debtor's hands, and a very considerable time before the reply

reaches Hongkong?

(c) Is the fine to be levied in all cases, notwithstanding

that the British creditor might from the knowledge he possessed at the time of making the claim be justified in making a claim, but afterwards on receiving information from Germany, find the German debtor had

a good cross claim?

(d) Is the interest to be calculated at 5 per cent. per

annum?

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

WINSTON CHURCHILL, 1⁄4.P.,

&c.

&C..

&c..

The