§ 27. Mr. Manderasked the Home Secretary whether he is able to make any further statement with reference to the position in the Channel Islands; and whether he has now received a report from Lord Justice Du Parcq's Committee?
§ Sir J. AndersonAs regards the first part of the Question, I have no further statement to make. As regards the second part, the committee is a voluntary committee whose main objects are to assist refugees with financial help and advice, to help them to obtain employment and to compile a register of persons known to be still in the islands and of refugees. My Department is keeping in close touch with the committee and is endeavouring to assist in every way possible in the very useful work which it is performing.
§ Mr. ManderHas further consideration been given to the suggestion that some neutral representative should be asked to go by air to the islands and see what the conditions are there?
§ Sir J. AndersonThere is another Question on the Paper about that.
§ Mr. Pethick-LawrenceShould people who are anxious about friends in the Channel Islands apply to this committee or to a Government Department?
§ Sir J. AndersonWe are endeavouring to make arrangements through the Red Cross Association and until they have been made it is not possible to secure information from the islands.
§ 31. Mr. Ammonasked the Home Secretary whether he can give any information as to the fate of the Channel Islanders left behind who are in danger of starvation owing to the cessation of imports of food necessary for the population under normal conditions, and the evacuation of most of the cattle from the island before the invasion?
§ Sir J. AndersonMy hon. Friend may be assured that His Majesty's Government will do all in their power to assist our fellow countrymen in the islands—but I think he has been misinformed as to the present position. The statement that most of the cattle were evacuated is mistaken, and appears to be based on the fact that the cattle in Alderney were removed to Guernsey. As I stated last 390 week, efforts are being made to establish communication with the islands through the Red Cross Association.
§ Mr. AmmonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have communications from relatives there who state that they are afraid they are in a position of starvation and that some of them who have left saw the cattle evacuated from the island?
§ Sir J. AndersonI think that my hon. Friend is mistaken.
§ Mr. ManderWill a neutral representative be asked to fly there?
§ Sir J. AndersonThat matter was considered and not found practicable.
§ 37 and 38. Mr. Shinwellasked the Home Secretary (1) how long before the German raids took place the Channel Islands were demilitarised; and how long a period elapsed after demilitarisation before the Germans were informed;
(2) how long a period elapsed between the decision to demilitarise the Channel Islands and the broadcast announcement that such action had been taken?
§ Sir J. AndersonThere was an interval of some days between the date when arrangements were put into operation for demilitarising the Islands and the date on which the demilitarisation was publicly announced. To have made the public announcement earlier would have been tantamount to inviting the enemy to occupy the Islands or to attack the ships engaged in the evacuation operations.
§ 41. Mr. Ammonasked the Home Secretary why, on 29th June, the day before the invasion of the Channel Islands, there was no transport available for the islanders who wished to leave?
§ Sir J. AndersonTo have attempted to continue until a later date the special arrangements for evacuation would have been highly dangerous, as was shown by events. Enemy aircraft attacked the harbours of both Jersey and Guernsey on 28th June, and it is, I think, a matter for congratulation that before then so many people had been got away safely from the Islands.
§ Mr. AmmonIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that all the evidence shows that no attack was made until the 391 30th and that large numbers of people who had registered to leave were left there; and is there any other case known in which we have given up a land without any resistance whatever and left the people to their fate?
§ Sir J. AndersonI have already had to point out to the hon. Member that his information has been mistaken in certain respects. The facts I have given in my answer as to the attack on the 28th have been verified. As regards the last part of the Question, I need hardly say that it was with the very greatest regret that the Government arrived at their decision.
§ Mr. AmmonMay I send the right hon. Gentleman the information I have got from numbers of letters, including the notice issued by the German Commander?