§ 1. Mr. PERCY HARRISasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state the number of German political prisoners undergoing sentence at the instance of the Allied Powers in German occupied territories; and whether, in view of the cessation of organised passive resistance, any general measure of amnesty will be considered?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Arthur Ponsonby)No prisoners are undergoing sentence for political offences in German occupied territories at the instance of the British Authorities. As regards political prisoners undergoing sentence at the instance of other Allied Powers, His Majesty's Government are not in a position to give either information or any undertaking relative to the grant of an amnesty.
§ Mr. HARRISWill the hon. Gentleman make inquiries and find out how many prisoners are imprisoned for political offences, and whether some settlement cannot be arrived at in the case of those who are of good will?
Mr. EDMUND HARVEYIs the hon. Gentleman aware that in individual cases the Allied Authorities have already granted an amnesty, and that it is not unreasonable to hope that a general amnesty will be granted?
§ Mr. PONSONBYI will inform my right hon Friend of the hon. Member's suggestion.