HC Deb 23 March 1944 vol 398 cc1047-8
59. Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the nature of the business while in this country of Mr. Frank A. Howard.

Mr. H. Morrison

The gentleman to whom I understand my hon. Friend to refer paid a number of brief visits to this country between February and Septem- ber, 1939. He has not been here, so far as I am aware, since he left for America at the beginning of October, 1939. I cannot say what business he transacted while in this country.

Mr. Smith

Is it not a very serious state of affairs that the Home Secretary, who is responsible for giving permission for people to visit this country, is not aware of this man's business? Is it not a fact that this man was representing powerful world monopolies, including, indirectly, the I.G. of Germany? In view of that statement, will not the right hon. Gentleman make further investigation into the matter in order that he can satisfy himself about it?

Mr. Morrison

It might be remembered that this gentleman came to this country in the piping days of peace—or at any rate in the days of peace. Therefore, it may be that the information was not as full as it would be in war time. In any case, I am not sure that it would be right for me to give, in public, the details of the private business of people who come to this country.

Mr. Smith

While accepting that in general, may I ask whether it is not a fact in this special case that this man paid special visits here in order to safeguard subsidiary interests of the I.G. of Germany?

Mr. Morrison

I do not know.

Sir Irving Albery

On a point of Order. Is it not a breach of Privilege for an hon. Member to make imputations which cannot be replied to against private citizens unless the imputations are properly substantiated?

Mr. Speaker

Every hon. Member must make himself responsible for his own statements.

Mr. Smith

Further to that point of Order. May I say that I would be the very last person to make an imputation of this kind unless there was substance in it, and that I am prepared to leave this matter to the future to prove whether the statements which I have made are well-founded?