§ 32. Mr. BOTTOMLEYasked the Prime Minister whether the German Government is taking any steps to secure the extradition of the three alleged War criminals charged with some of the most serious of offences who have escaped from Germany, and whose names are upon the list of the seven arranged for trial; and, if not, whether the British Ambassador will be instructed to make a strong representation to the German Government on the matter?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Sir Gordon Hewart)I have been asked to reply to this question. The information which I have from the Attorney-General at Leipzig is that the persons referred to cannot be traced, but that all possible efforts have been, and are being made, to find them. Proceedings for extradition will hardly be practicable until the accused persons have been found.
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYDoes the right hon. and learned Gentleman remember that, in November last, I asked the Prime Minister whether any steps had been taken to ensure that German officers charged with War crimes, then awaiting trial, were not allowed to leave Germany, and whether any instructions had been given to the British Ambassador in the matter, and that the right hon. and learned Gentleman replied that the British Ambassador was fully seized of the matter? If that be so, how have these men succeeded in escaping?
§ Sir G. HEWARTI understand they escaped before that date. The hon. Member seems to forget that the arrangement that was made at Spa on the 29th July of last year was that the German Government should bring to trial a selected number of persons. Some of these persons are now being tried, and I should have thought that it was inconvenient now, in the midst of that process, that we or any other Government should step in and say, "You ought to take this step or that step."
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYMay we take it that some of the more serious criminals 299 are going to be tried, or are we going to confine these investigations to police court cases?
§ Sir G. HEWARTI do not know what the hon. Member means by "police court cases," except it be in reference to the accidental fact that, owing to Act of Parliament, evidence here had been taken before a police magistrate. The cases that are being tried are four of the gravest cases in which we have clear evidence.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERIf the results of the trial are not satisfactory, are we at liberty to bring up other—and there are many—serious cases before the Leipzig tribunal?
§ Sir G. HEWARTThat is not a matter for me to answer on the spur of the moment. I have had a telegram from Leipzig to say that one of these persons, the first to be tried, has been sentenced to ten months' imprisonment.
§ Sir F. BANBURYWill there be an opportunity of discussing that extremely inadequate sentence?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe right hon. Gentleman must give notice of that question.