§ 3. Mr. Sorensenasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will approach the French Government with a view to securing the release and safe passage to this country of any British subjects still in France or any refugees in this country who volunteered for military service and became attached to French units and desire to return to this country; and whether further repratriation of French citizens will be effected in relation to this arrangement?
§ Mr. ButlerHis Majesty's Government are doing everything possible to arrange for the early return of British subjects still in unoccupied France who wish to come back to this country. The Vichy Government are, however, unlikely to respond to a request for the return to this country of refugees attached to French units, seeing that under Article 10 of the Franco-German armistice convention they are required to prevent members of the French armed forces from going abroad; and in the circumstances my Noble Friend does not consider that it would serve any useful purpose to approach them on the subject. As regards the last part of the Question, with the exception of certain persons whom it is thought necessary to detain here for the time being, French citizens wishing to leave the United Kingdom receive the same facilities as nationals of neutral States.
§ Mr. SorensenCould not the right hon. Gentleman propose some reciprocal arrangement by which British nationals 1211 of this country who desire to go back to France could be exchanged for British subjects still in France, and also for those refugees who were in this country and who volunteered to serve but who were actually posted to French units when they got to France?
§ Mr. ButlerThere is the difficulty of Article 10 of the Convention. With regard to the first point, we are satisfied that there are facilities for British subjects to return here from France and for French subjects to return to France, but naturally the hon. Member's point will have proper consideration.