HC Deb 05 December 1928 vol 223 cc1215-6
63. Mr. RENNIE SMITH

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can furnish particulars of the circumstances in which the burgomeister of Königstein in the Rhineland, procured a bandmaster to play the German national anthem without asking leave to do so and was sentenced by the British summary court at Weisbaden to a fine of 100 marks or, in the alternative, to a fortnight's imprisonment?

The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Duff Cooper)

I have received no official report on this case, but I am making inquiry and will let the hon. Member know the result.

Mr. SMITH

Is it the British law in the occupied Rhineland that bands and individuals are prohibited from playing or singing their own national anthem?

Mr. COOPER

It is not the British law, but it is a regulation, where British soldiers are present and where the playing of the German national anthem or similar tunes might lead to disturbances.

Mr. BECKETT

How do they discriminate between this tune and "God Save the King"?

Mr. COOPER

That is a question of music and not of politics.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Have any British soldiers in fact objected to these tunes?

Mr. COOPER

I have no information on that point.

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