HC Deb 19 February 1941 vol 369 cc143-5
29. Mr. Silverman

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Benjamin Ajzenberg and his brother Jack were arrested by two Polish soldiers accompanied by a British police officer, detained for one night in a London prison, removed under escort to a prison in Scotland, detained there for six weeks without trial, then detained for a further 10 days without trial in a Polish military camp and finally released; whether these persons are stateless civilians; and under what authority they were deprived of their liberty?

Mr. Law

I am informed that these two brothers are Polish citizens and came to this country from France with a group of Polish troops. They were assumed to be soldiers and were subsequently detained by the Polish military authorities as deserters. They have been released because it was not established that they had been properly enrolled in the Polish Army. They were not detained in a British prison in London or in Scotland.

Mr. Silverman

Do I understand from the hon. Member's reply that the series of facts which he has related were continuous, or was it not the case that these men were released by the Polish authorities at one time, were granted labour permits by the Ministry of Labour at a later time, and at a later time still were arrested by the Polish authorities, who at that time had full knowledge that they were not Polish soldiers at all; and were they not detained throughout the whole period as described in the Question?

Mr. Law

My information is the reverse of my hon. Friend's. As I understand it, they were genuinely thought to be Polish soldiers because they came over from occupied France with Polish troops. They disappeared, and the Polish military authorities thought they were deserters and got hold of them again.

30. Mr. Silverman

asked the Secretary of State for War how many persons are now detained by the Polish authorities in this country under their powers under the Allied Forces Act; and how many persons are now detained by the Polish authorities who have never at any time served in the Polish armed forces?

Mr. Law

Apart from. Polish soldiers who may be undergoing detention in Polish camps for disciplinary reasons, I am informed that there are no persons now detained by the Polish authorities in this country under the Allied Forces Act, but that six persons are detained who have never served in the Polish armed forces. Orders have been given that unless they wish to serve they are to be released immediately.

Mr. Silverman

Would the hon. Member bear in mind that a large number of us have been making great efforts in recent months to make the present scheme under the Allied Forces Act work harmoniously, and that if the Polish authorities are going to abuse these powers, they will make our efforts entirely useless?

Mr. Law

I understand my hon. Friend's point of view in this matter. I think that in this case a mistake was made by the Polish authorities, and that mistake will be remedied.