§ 44. Major Petherickasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give a list of organisations owned or manned by German refugees; and whether such refugees gave, on entering the United Kingdom, undertakings not to engage in political activities.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonOrganisations of which the members, or a substantial proportion of them, are racial or political refugees from Germany—or, indeed, from other European countries—vary widely in their character, purpose and size. Some, for example, are charitable, others cultural or social, while others again may have political aims of various kinds. I do not think it would serve any useful purpose to publish a list of such organisations. Refugees were not required on coming here to give an undertaking to refrain from political activities, but as guests in this country they are, of course, under a special obligation not to engage in political activities which will be resented by our people or may be unhelpful or embarrassing to the war effort of the United Nations.
§ Major PetherickIs my right hon. Friend aware that some of these organisations, either consciously or unconsciously, are doing the work of Dr. Goebbels in trying to persuade the people of this country that the Germans are an honest, industrious people, and must be let down very lightly when the war is won?
§ Mr. MorrisonI was not aware of that. There are various tendencies, and I think it is undesirable for these organisations 1393 to get involved in activities that are controversial in our domestic sense, but I do not think there is very much to worry about.
§ Mr. SilvermanDoes my right hon. Friend think there is any real harm in a German who has escaped from his country because he does not sympathise with the regime there trying to persuade others, if he can, that those governing Germany now are not governing with the consent of the people?