HC Deb 07 March 1945 vol 408 cc2000-1
13. Mr. Stourton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether an approach has been made to the Soviet Government with a view to securing cancellation of the decree of the Lublin Committee outlawing the Polish underground army.

Mr. Eden

I have no evidence that any decree has been issued by the Lublin administration outlawing the Polish Home Army as a whole. The Home Army has been formally dissolved by the Polish Government in London. Many of its members, however, are alleged to have resisted the Lublin administration's measures of registration, conscription, etc., and to have refused to submit to its authority. This administration have announced their intention of taking severe measures against these allegedly irreconcilable elements of the Home Army, and against supporters of the Polish Government in London, and special courts have been set up to hold Polish treason trials. In the view of His Majesty's Government, if the necessary atmosphere of confidence is to be created, which alone can ensure the success of the present consultations in Moscow, it is imperative both that the Lublin administration should take no measures against Poles merely because they do not recognise their authority and that such Poles should cease active resistance to the local authorities, which endangers the lines of communication of the advancing Soviet armies. His Majesty's Government will continue to use their influence to this end.

Mr. Stourton

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the proper treatment of the Polish underground army is a vital preliminary step to obtaining lasting accord between Russia and Poland?

Mr. Eden

My hon. Friend will see that I have dealt with that point, not exactly in his terms, but in rather a similar way.

Mr. Molson

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the British Ambassador at Moscow has access to full information about what is going on in East Poland?

Mr. Eden

I should be obliged if my hon. Friend will put that down. The question of information in Poland is one of those at present under discussion in Moscow.