§ 4. Mr. Purbrickasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the seven French citizens were interned in Syria for which action the Vichy Government have interned 14 Englishmen; and what action does he propose to take against the Vichy Government for their unwarranted reprisal?
§ Mr. EdenThe French citizens in question were interned in Syria by the Free French authorities as hostages for an equal number of French officers who had been sent by the Vichy authorities from Syria to France before the Syrian Armistice because they wished to join the Free French Movement. While negotiations on this subject were still in progress the Vichy Government arrested and interned 14 British subjects. It has been made clear that whatever the outcome of the negotiations, which are continuing, the release of the Vichy citizens in Syria is contingent upon the simultaneous release of the British subjects at present interned in France.