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Germany

Volume 484: debated on Monday 12 February 1951

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Sentences (Review)

56.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what requests His Majesty's High Commissioner in Germany has received from any of the other High Commissioners for review of the sentences imposed by the Nuremberg Tribunal.

No such request has been received. There has been discussion at the High Commission on at least one occasion of the advisability of considering a review under the authority given in Article 29 of the Charter of the International Military Tribunal, but no recommendation on the point has been formulated.

In considering this matter will my hon. Friend bear in mind that nine out of ten of these prisoners were sentenced, not for what are commonly known as war crimes committed in the heat of battle but for participating in mass murder in cold blood?

Certainly, Sir. His Majesty's Government have no intention of initiating a review of these prisoners' sentences.

In these important matters, which affect all countries, is there any discussion and agreement between the various High Commissioners before decisions are reached?

This Question refers to the Nuremberg Tribunal, which was an international tribunal of the four Occupying Powers, and there would, therefore, have to be discussions between them before any action was taken.

Can the Under-Secretary say what steps, if any, are taken to bring about any kind of co-ordination among the Powers who were Allies in the late war on these matters, which are obviously matters of common concern?

This Question refers to the Nuremberg Tribunal, and in that respect there is complete discussion at the High Commission when the High Commission of the Four Powers meets regarding these matters. I should want notice of questions about those prisoners for whom the individual High Commissioners are responsible.

Re-Armament

57.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he intends to try to place on the agenda of the forthcoming Great Powers Conference the problem of German re-armament in Eastern and Western Germany.

As my hon. Friend will be aware, the Soviet Government have called for a meeting of the Four Powers for the purpose of discussing the question of the demilitarisation of Germany. The latest note from the Soviet Government is being studied with a view to seeing whether it offers a basis for a preliminary meeting of representatives of the Four Powers for the purpose of drafting an agenda for a meeting of Ministers. I cannot therefore at present comment on the items which His Majesty's Government would propose to put on the agenda. It is, however, our view that the problem of re-armament, which at present exists in a concrete form in East Germany alone, must be examined in the context of the real causes of present international tension.

Would not concentration on the question of the re-armament of Western Germany be put in better perspective if the re-armament of Eastern Germany as well were considered?

I think my hon. Friend might do well to await today's debate, during which these matters will be discussed.

Court Of St James's (Envoys)

58.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many Ambassadors and Ministers, respectively, are accredited to the Court of St. James's.

Thirty-five Ambassadors and 19 Ministers are accredited to the Court of St. James's. Two appointments ordinarily filled by Ambassadors and four by Ministers are vacant.

Can the hon. Gentleman say why we have abandoned the fundamental distinction between these two classes of envoy? Nowadays nearly everybody except the Republic of Andora is represented by an Ambassador.

We respect the wishes of foreign Powers, and if they prefer to raise their legations to embassies we accept that.

Sentenced Communist (Charges)

The following Question stood upon the Order Paper:

65.

To ask the Attorney-General the terms of the charge on which Mr. Glading was given six years' penal servitude.

On a point of order. I appear to have suffered an injustice, Sir. My Question No. 65 addressed to the Attorney-General was handed in to the Table before other Questions which have already been answered by the Attorney-General today. In the circumstances, I wondered whether you would allow me to put that Question to him.

I cannot allow hon. Members to put Questions out of their turn. I know nothing about how this Question came on the Order Paper. It is really a matter for the Minister concerned. If he chooses to ask permission to answer that Question, I will gladly give it to him.

If I may have the permission of the House, I will answer this Question, Sir, which appears to be of some interest. The answer is as follows:

Yes, Sir. Glading pleaded guilty to five charges of obtaining plans and information for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the State, contrary to Section I of the Official Secrets Act, 1911. The first charge related to the plan of a naval gun, the second to a part of an anti-tank mine pistol, the third to plans of an anti-submarine bomb fuse, the fourth to information contained in a book relating to explosives and the fifth to four blue prints relating to a pressure bar apparatus.

Can the Attorney-General tell the House anything about the antecedents of Mr. Glading, and what his present position is in the Communist Party?

Yes, Sir. In 1929, Mr. Glading was elected to the Communist Party Central Committee and he subsequently served as a member of the politbureau and agitprop departments. In 1925 he had been to India as an agent of the Communist Internationale in Moscow and after returning to England he worked in close association with Mr. Harry Pollitt. He later became a professional spy for the Soviet Union. It is difficult to state the exact position occupied by those in the Communist hierarchy, but Glading is believed to occupy an important position.

Can the Attorney-General tell us what is the official peacetime capacity of Mr. Glading?

So far as I know, Mr. Glading is employed in the Amalgamated Engineering Union.

Dock Strikes

by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Labour whether he has any statement to make on the present situation in the docks.

There has been an improvement in the situation this morning. The number of men at work in London has increased by 1,150 making a total of 18,500 men at work. I understand that at a meeting of the men in London this morning it was unanimously decided to resume work tomorrow.

Is the Minister aware that, as a result of the action taken over the weekend, whereas previous unofficial strike leaders have been completely humiliated and defeated by the men themselves, these leaders have been placed on a pedestal, and the men have said that they are going to come out again next Tuesday?

It is almost impossible to determine what is the nature of the decision which they have made about next Tuesday, but I should like to inform my hon. Friend that as long as a fortnight ago I had started discussions with the Joint Consultative Committee of the National Joint Advisory Council about the operation of Order 1305, and there is to be another meeting on the 28th February to further consider the matter.

In view of the prolonged nature of the stoppage on Merseyside, where the position is apparently no better, is the right hon. Gentleman considering taking steps to preserve the national interest there?

My information is that the men on Merseyside decided to await the decision of the London dockers, and I assume that now that the London dockers have decided to return to work, there will be a resumption of work at Manchester, Liverpool and Birkenhead.

Does not the Minister think that it was very ill-advised for the arrest of the unofficial strike leaders to have been made at a time when the strike was about to collapse?

It is impossible for any Member of this House to comment on proceedings now before the court.