Catalogue description Royal Commission on Compensation for Suffering and Damage by Enemy Action: Minutes and Papers

The Royal Commission on Compensation for Suffering and Damage by Enemy Action was set up by royal warrant on 15 August 1921 'to consider cases in which there is a moral claim by British Nationals.... for compensation for suffering or damage arising out of the actions of the enemy during the war within Annex I to Part 8 of the Treaty of Versailles, and to make recommendations as to distribution of a sum of not more than £5,000,000.'

Acting in conjunction with the commission was the Reparation Claims Department, set up in January 1920 to prepare British claims against Germany and to administer the release of Turkish property in the United Kingdom; its work continued until 1926. The Commission was chaired by Lord Sumner with two other members. It acted judicially, and began its work by drawing up a body of principles. It reported first in January 1923, and presented its final report in February 1924.