§ 49. Lord R. CECILasked the Prime Minister whether any arrangement had now been arrived at with regard to the graves of those who fell on the Western Front; and whether it was possible to give a larger measure of freedom to the relatives of the fallen to honur their dead in the way that seemed to them best?
§ Mr. FORSTERI have been asked to answer this question. I would refer my right hon. Friend to the statements which have been published by the Imperial War Graves Commission, and in particular to a pamphlet called "Graves of the Fallen," copies of which have been sent to all Members of both Houses of Parliament. The Imperial War Graves Commission is making every effort to allow the greatest possible freedom to relatives, and my right hon. Friend is probably aware that the Commission recently received on this subject a deputation, with whom the Commission are at present discussing the technical difficulties in the way of satisfying all their wishes.
§ Lord R. CECILWhen will the right hon. Gentleman be in a position to make a statement about the final decision of the Imperial War Graves Commission, because I am sure he will realise that it is a question which touches very deeply certain of those who have suffered most severely in the War?
§ Mr. FORSTERNo one knows that better than myself. I am afraid I cannot say now when I shall be in a position to make a statement, but I can assure my Noble Friend that we are very anxious that there should be no avoidable delay, and we shall take every possible step to expedite procedure.