§ 18. Mr. Alexander Walkdenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether assurances have been given by the Vatican authorities that in the event of any war criminals taking refuge in that State they will be handed over to the Allies.
§ Mr. EdenThe Vatican was included in the approach to neutral States in 1943 to which I referred in reply to a question put by my hon. Friend on 6th December, when I said that the replies received were, broadly speaking, not unsatisfactory. A further inquiry was made of the Vatican on this subject in September last in connection with a certain Press report. The reply of the Vatican authorities showed that there was no foundation for the rumour that asylum had been offered to leading war criminals.