HC Deb 20 June 1944 vol 401 cc9-11
11. Mr. Graham White

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare if he will state the terms of the guarantees accepted from Germany in 1942 for the protection of food supplies in Greece and also of any subsequent amendments.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare (Mr. Dingle Foot)

As the answer is a long one I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

H.M. Government and the U.S. Government agreed in 1942 to allow foodstuffs to be shipped to Greece through the blockade upon the following conditions:

  1. (1) All belligerents to give safe conduct in both directions for ships engaged in carrying foodstuffs to Greece for distribution as relief under this scheme.
  2. (2) A neutral commission to be established in Greece and have under its direct control the distribution of all goods imported as relief.
  3. (3) Foodstuffs imported as relief through the blockade to be reserved solely for the Greek population and to be distributed where, in the opinion of the Commission, the need is greatest.
  4. (4) Foodstuffs originating in Greece to be reserved solely for persons normally resident in Greece in peace-time, except in so far as any foodstuffs consumed in Greece by the armed forces or officials of the occupying powers are replaced 10 by the equivalent imports of foodstuffs into Greece for the Greek population.
  5. (5) The Commission to have the right and duty to verify by direct observation that these conditions are fulfilled, to be sufficiently numerous and to maintain a sufficient staff, and to enjoy (with its officers) such complete freedom, of movement and facilities for inspection and inquiry as are necessary for this purpose.

Early in 1943 H.M. Government and U.S. Government agreed to a variation in the scheme proposed by M. Allard, the Swedish Chargé d'Affaires in Greece. This provided for the collection of 15,000 tons of olive oil of which 11,000 tons were to be retained by the Neutral Commission for distribution to the recipients of relief and 4,000 tons were to be taken by the occupying authorities on condition that the Axis Governments would provide compensation in the form of foodstuffs of equal calory value. These compensatory foodstuffs were shipped from Trieste on a Swedish vessel, the s.s. "Hallaren." For these and subsequent voyages the British Admiralty had given a safe conduct to the s.s. "Hallaren" sailing either from Trieste or Venice, on the understanding that she will only carry foodstuffs intended for the Greek civilian population.

12. Mr. White

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare if any report has been received from the Swedish-Swiss Commission on relief food supplies in Greece, as to whether the conditions under which the import of food relief supplies is allowed, have been observed.

Mr. Foot

We have received a large number of communications from the Commission regarding various aspects of their work but full reports on the operation of the scheme as a whole have not, however, been nearly as frequent as we could wish. As the House will appreciate the most important condition and the one most difficult to enforce is that designed to protect Greek native produce. I am not reflecting in any way on the competence and devotion with which the Commission have carried out their task. I must, however, make it clear that we are by no means satisfied that this condition has been fully observed by the occupying authorities and troops. Moreover, as I informed the House in the Debate on 10th November, there were a number of occasions in the late summer of 1943 when the occupying authorities requisitioned or destroyed Greek crops allegedly as a reprisal for guerilla activities. This was certainly a breach of the spirit, if not the letter of the scheme.

Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore

Can the Minister satisfy us that the Germans are not removing the domestic produce of Greece, simply to make way for what the Allies and others are trying to give them?

Mr. Foot

I wish I could give the hon. and gallant Member a categorical assurance on that point, but I cannot.