§ Viscount CURZON (by Private Notice)asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the very serious outrages reported to have taken place against women at Oppeln, committed by the German Schutz Polizei, beginning on 7th July; whether he is aware that the reports state that some of these outrages were committed under the eyes of the British and Inter-Allied Officers, who were able to do nothing, as they had strict orders not to provoke a conflict with the German population; whether the Allies will take prompt action to prevent any repetition of the frightful outrages reported?
Mr. HARMSWORTHNo official information has reached the Foreign Office on the subject. The whole of the former plebiscite area has now, I believe, been transferred to the administration of the German and Polish Governments. The Allied Governments cannot, therefore, at present take any measures of direct interference.
§ Viscount CURZONIs the hon. Gentleman aware that one of the reports emanates from the Senior Member of the British Inter-Allied Commission, and could he not possibly make further inquiries with a view to representations to the German Government?
Mr. HARMSWORTHI have no means of making inquiries. The High Commission is defunctus officio, and the government of the district is in the hands of Germany.