HC Deb 07 July 1943 vol 390 cc2061-2
2. Mr. Lipson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any steps are being taken to secure possession of the large fortunes which the Nazi leaders have placed in foreign countries?

Mr. Eden

In so far as the fortunes of the Nazi leaders are the fruits of acts of dispossession against the peoples of occupied Europe, the intentions of His Majesty's Government were made clear in the declaration issued by the Allied Governments on the 5th January last. As the Prime Minister stated in reply to the hon. Member for Stoke (Mr. Ellis Smith) on 1st July, it is not at present possible to forecast the arrangements that will follow the unconditional surrender of the enemy, but my hon. Friend may rest assured that measures will be taken so far as is possible to ensure that the Nazi leaders do not draw profit from their crimes, for which it is intended that full retribution shall be exacted.

Mr. Lipson

Has my right hon. Friend any information about these fortunes, and will it be possible to secure some of them, at any rate, even before the war is over?

Mr. Eden

I had hoped from my hon. Friend's Question that he was going to give me a little information about them. If he has any, I shall be glad to have it.