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Central Europe (Jews)

Volume 642: debated on Tuesday 13 June 1961

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42.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will direct the appropriate Ministers to prepare a White Paper containing all official records and information within the possession of Her Majesty's Government on the evacuation of Jews from Central Europe during the war years 1939 to 1945.

I sympathise with the purpose of the right hon. and learned Gentleman's Question. This is a complex matter and I have not yet had time to consider his proposal fully, but I will communicate with him as soon as I can.

In view of the world-wide publicity which has been given to statements made at the Eichmann trial, will the Prime Minister place on record the fact that this country and Her Majesty's Government were not at any time indifferent to the tragic fate which overcame the Jews in Central Europe?

That is quite right. I am grateful to the right hon. and learned Gentleman for making that statement, which I confirm.

Will the Prime Minister bear in mind that those of us who were Members of this House at the time will certainly endorse what my right hon. and learned Friend said about there being no indifference in this House at the time? At the same time, does the Prime Minister realise that there is a good deal of bewilderment and some anxiety about the whole of this tragic story, and that it might be a very good thing if Her Majesty's Government accepted my right hon. and learned Friend's suggestion so as to add to the historical material on which ultimately a judgment will have to be made?

As I have told the right hon. and learned Gentleman, this is a rather complicated matter, having regard to the rules about the publication of public documents, but I will consider this further with my advisers and inform him as soon as I can.