HC Deb 17 December 1934 vol 296 cc819-23
Mr. LANSBURY

(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make on the recent breach of the peace in the Saar in which a British member of the Saar Volunteer Police Force was concerned.

Sir J. SIMON

The Saar police force is under the sole authority of the Saar Governing Commission, upon which continues to rest the primary responsibility for the maintenance of law and order in the territory. His Majesty's Government have, of course, no responsibility either for the recruitment or the selection of the members of that force. I understand that recruitment abroad for this police force has now ceased in view of the despatch to the Saar of the International Force, which has no connection with the Saar police but which is placed at the disposal of the Governing Commission for the purpose of maintaining order in case of need.

I regret to learn that on Saturday night an incident occurred in the streets of Saarbrucken arising out of the mounting on the pavement of a car driven by an officer of the Saar police with the result that a member of the public who was standing on the pavement was injured. This caused the gathering of a crowd which assumed a threatening attitude to the occupants of the car and especially to the police officer in question. The matter came to blows and one or two revolver shots were fired. The police officer was set upon by the crowd and had to be taken to hospital. The Governing Commission have issued special instructions for a prompt and thorough investigation and the police officer concerned has been suspended until the matter is officially cleared up.

As the question is still sub judice, I am of course unable to make any further statement except that, wherever the blame may be found to lie, such an incident at this time is exceedingly unfortunate. There is no reason to anticipate political complications and I have already made plain that neither the International Force nor the British contingent have any connection with the matter whatever.

Mr. LANSBURY

In view of the fact that injury to or the death of a British subject, enlisted in this cosmopolitan police force, would be a matter of consideration, at least, to the Government, would it not be better that the international police force that is being or has been recruited should be brought under the same jurisdiction as the soldiers who are going in at the request of the commissioner; and that, instead of two cosmopolitan forces, there should be only one under one jurisdiction?

Sir J. SIMON

I must point out that the composition of the Saar police force is not a matter with which this Government or indeed any other Government is directly concerned. It is a force that has been recruited by the Saar Governing Commission at a time when they were not aware that they would get the help which is now at their disposal through the International Force. I do not think, therefore, that it rests upon us to decide the matter raised by the right hon. Gentleman, and I think we may leave this matter now with some confidence in the hands of the Governing Commission to deal with it fairly and prudently.

Mr. LAWSON

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there was some confusion in the public mind to-day, as this incident happened right on the heels of the troops going into the Saar; and will he make it quite clear that the persons concerned have nothing whatever to do with the troops there who have gone in there?

Sir J. SIMON

I am obliged to the hon. Gentleman for underlining that point, but I think that my own answer was, in fact, quite specific. I said so both at the beginning of my answer and at the end of it. If I may repeat my words, what I said was: I have already made plain that neither the International Force nor the British contingent have any connection with the matter whatever. I entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman that it is most important that it should be publicly known and that in no quarter should any contrary impression be created.

Mr. LANSBURY

While that is so, I would like to press the point that the British subjects who are in this police force were recruited with the knowledge and at least the acquiesence of the British Government. [HON. MEMBERS: "No."] Well, we did not stop them being recruited, and I think the answer of the right hon. Gentleman on that point did convey the information that persons wishing to enlist could get information from a Government office—as they did. That is one thing. The other thing is this. Had this officer been killed would that not have been a matter of interest to the British Government, and, if so, I repeat, would it not be to the advantage of all concerned if bodies of police or soldiers acting in the Saar were under one command? I know they are under the control of the commissioner just as the police here are under the control of the Home Secretary, but there is an officer in charge of the troops. Should not that officer be in charge of all the foreign police and soldiers who are there now?

Sir J. SIMON

As regards the first of the questions just put by the Leader of the Opposition, I would like to make it entirely plain that the choice and enlistment of those who are now in the Saar Police Force is a matter with which His Majesty's Government or this country have nothing to do at all. It is very necessary that there should be no mistake about it. As regards the second question, I well understand the motives behind the proposals of the Leader of the Opposition, but he has to remember that the choice and enlistment of these people was on a different basis from the International Force, as acting for the League of Nations directly, and I really think that we may safely leave that matter now in the hands of the Chief Commissioner. No doubt he will consult the general officer commanding, but it would not be possible nor right for us here to attempt to regulate arrangements which are made by the League of Nations and by the Saar Commission.

Mr. MABANE

Is my right hon. Friend aware that one newspaper last night produced a report announcing: British attacked in the Saar. and would he suggest that the Press should exercise the greatest possible care in making reports on this matter at the present time?

Sir J. SIMON

I regret it very much, because not only was it improper, but as far as I can see it was quite contrary to the information which came from there.

Mr. A. BEVAN

I hesitate to follow this matter further, but is there not some slight misapprehension about the position. Is it not a fact that if an Englishman obtains employment abroad—and this arises out of the right hon. Gentleman's own speech on the occasion of the incidents in Russia—we accept certain obligations for the safety of that person and his defence against unfair treatment, and, in view of the fact that this man has sought employment abroad, not directly under the League of Nations, is it not possible that a man in those cir-circumstances in the Saar might involve us in some unpleasantness?

Sir J. SIMON

There is no possible analogy between the two cases. The Englishmen who were in Russia were private persons in a foreign country engaged in carrying out their duty and Englishmen in those circumstances will always be entitled to the protection of their own Government. But if an Englishman enlists in the Foreign Legion or in the Saar police, he does so with his eyes open and nobody would suggest that in those circumstances he has a special claim upon the Government.

Sir FRANK SANDERSON

Can the right hon. Gentleman state whether this officer was a British officer?

Sir J. SIMON

I understand that the nationality of this gentleman is British, but of course his position in the matter was that he was a member of the Saar police force.