§ 34. Sir Patrick Hannonasked the Minister of Information whether his attention has been called to the recent protest made by three French Cardinals on the refusal of the German Government to allow priests to accompany French workers deported to Germany; whether a similar protest has recently been made by the Belgian hierarchy; and whether this insult to the authority of the Catholic Church in France and Belgium can be widely broadcast in the United States of America?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information (Mr. Thurtle)Yes, Sir. I understand that a similar protest to that of the French Cardinals was made in a Lent Pastoral Letter by the Belgian Cardinal-Archbishop and Bishops. As my right hon. Friend said in reply to Questions by my hon. Friend on 30th June, protests issued by the Churches against Nazi crimes have received wide publicity in the United States.
§ Sir P. HannonIs the Minister satisfied himself that these protests are widely known in the United States of America?
§ Mr. ThurtleAccording to my information, very wide publicity has been given in America to this matter.