asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if it was with his approval that His Majesty's High Commissioner in Germany recently made his pronouncement in favour of a review of the sentences imposed by the Nuremberg Tribunal on major war criminals.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it was with his approval that His Majesty's High Commissioner in Germany made his recent official pronouncement in Berlin in favour of a review of the sentences of the major war criminals.

The High Commissioner made no official pronouncement, but in answer to a question at a Press luncheon said that while this was a matter for four-Power decision he personally would be ready to review these cases.

Does my hon. Friend realise that the reply given by the High Commissioner has filled a large number of people with horror, in view of the mass murders that were committed by these arch-criminals and the fact that they received a full and proper trial?

We are reviewing all sentences, but the fact that sentences are reviewed does not imply a revision or a reduction in those sentences. Since we are reviewing cases in the British zone, we consider it quite logical that all cases for which the four Powers are responsible should also be reviewed.