HC Deb 19 April 1920 vol 128 cc16-8
29. Mr. G. DOYLE

asked the Prime Minister what progress, if any, has been made during the last three months in bringing the ex-Kaiser and other War criminals to justice; if the refusal of the Netherlands Government to surrender the first-named has been accepted by the Supreme Council as final; if the said Government have promised to take effective measures against his escape and conspiring with persons from Germany to promote unrest in that country; and if the Netherlands Government have given any undertaking that they will intern the ex-Kaiser in one of their Colonies under an effective guard?

Mr. BONAR LAW

As the House is aware, the surrender of the ex-Emperor under Article 227 of the Treaty of Versailles has, during the last three months, been the subject of an exchange of Notes between the Supreme Council of the Allies and the Netherlands Government. The Netherlands Government have not been able to see their way to comply with the request of the Allied Governments in this matter. They have, however, undertaken full responsibility for the safe custody of the person of the ex-Emperor and the control of his correspondence and relations with the outside world. For this purpose they have assigned him a place of residence within a specified portion of the Province of Utrecht.

Mr. DOYLE

Can the right hon. Gentleman say where the ex-Kaiser is at present?

Mr. BONAR LAW

In some part of the Province of Utrecht.

Colonel LOWTHER

Could not the Dutch Government send him to the Isle of Cayenne, and will a recommendation to that effect be made to that Government?

Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY

May I ask why it was that during the War we were able to bring successful pressure on the Dutch Government with regard to imports, and now we are apparently helpless in view of this great danger to Europe?

Mr. BILLING

May I ask whether from the answer of the right hon. Gentleman we are to understand that the Allies have given up all hope of fulfilling the Prime Minister's election pledge that the ex-Kaiser would be brought to trial?

Mr. BONAR LAW

All the facts are well known to the House.

Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY

No; they are not.

Mr. BONAR LAW

The Allies have done their best to induce the Government to take action. They have not succeeded, and they do not propose to use force.

Mr. BILLING

If the whole of the Allied Powers cannot insist on the Dutch Government doing this, what possible hope is there for the League of Nations?

Mr. BONAR LAW

The League of Nations does not propose in the first instance, or except as a last resort, to use force. The alternative for the Allies in this case is to use force.

Mr. BILLING

Would not an economic boycott have the same effect?

Colonel LOWTHER

Are we to understand if an arch-criminal takes refuge in Holland it is not proposed to use force?

Mr. BONAR LAW

That does not arise.

40. Sir F. HALL

asked the Prime Minister if he can give the House any information with regard to the progress which has been made with the arrangements for the trial of war criminals in Germany; if he will state when the trials are to take place; and whether an official shorthand writer will be present on behalf of Great Britain, whose soldiers and prisoners in Germany suffered most from German barbarism.

Mr. BONAR LAW

I can add nothing to the statement which the Prime Minister made in the House of Commons on this subject on 29th March last.

Sir F. HALL

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that we have had no official information from the Government at all on this subject as to what is going to be done, and that we only know what we have to gather from the papers, and can he under the circumstances give a fuller reply to my question?

Mr. BONAR LAW

The statement made by the Prime Minister was that negotiations were going on, and that arrangements had not yet been completed.

Sir F. HALL

Will they be completed, or have they been completed, or are they likely to be completed very soon?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I can express a hope as regards the last.

Mr. DOYLE

If these War criminals succeed in escaping to Holland, as the ex-Kaiser has, and if Holland on application refuses to give them up

Mr. SPEAKER

That is a doubly hypothetical question.

Colonel LOWTHER

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the strong feeling there is all over the country on this subject?

Viscount CURZON

Are there any officers on the black list at present under detention in this country?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I should like notice of that question.

Mr. BILLING

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an undertaking to this House that the Government will insist on Germany producing the criminals named, having regard to their possible escape, and will he give them a time limit to commence their trial and put them under arrest in the meantime?

Mr. BONAR LAW

The subject has been very fully discussed, and I can add nothing.