HC Deb 28 February 1945 vol 408 c1359
12. Mr. Vernon Bartlett

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the name of Court Grandi appears in the British list of war criminals.

13. Mr. Driberg

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if Count Grandi is included in the official list of war criminals.

Mr. Eden

The name of Count Grandi has not been submitted to the War Crimes Commission by the British national office, nor, so far as I know, by the national office of any other United Nations.

Mr. Bartlett

Was not Count Grandi one of the very earliest members of the Fascist Party, and has he not been a consistent supporter of it?

Mr. Eden

That may be so, but, although I am not a lawyer, I do not think that that in itself falls within the definition of war crimes.

Mr. Driberg

Does he not share the responsibility for the war guilt of Italian Fascism, and was he not one of its principal leaders?

Mr. Eden

I think I am right on what constitutes a war crime.

Mr. McGovern

Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been drawn to the articles in a newspaper by Count Grandi; and was permission given by the Foreign Office or any other Government Department for apologies of this kind to be made by an eminent Fascist?

Mr. Eden

I should be obliged if the hon. Gentleman would put that question down. So far as I know, the Foreign Office were not consulted in any way.