§ 61. Mr. Monslowasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the official announcement by the French Foreign Office that His Majesty's Government had not asked for the extradition of Amin el Husseini, ex-Mufti of Jerusalem, but only for his transfer from French to British custody, he will now take appropriate steps to obtain his extradition.
Mr. McNeilThe offences with which the Mufti might be charged are not extraditable offences under the Anglo-French Extradition Treaty. No useful purpose would, therefore, be served by applying for his extradition.
§ Mr. JannerIs the hon. Member aware that the Mufti actually enlisted Forces against this country in Germany; and in those circumstances does he not propose to do something about the matter?
Mr. McNeilI am not asked whether I will do something. I am asked about extradition and I must point out that this does not fall inside the compass of an extradition treaty.
§ 62. Mr. George Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why His Majesty's Government informed the French Government that Haj Amin el Husseini did not come within the category of war criminals, but was regarded as a Quisling; and if, in view of the ex-Mufti's activities on behalf of the Nazis and Fascists during the war in Germany, Italy and elsewhere, and the part he has played as an instigator of, and collaborator in, the plans for the extermination of European Jews by Hitler, he will now take appropriate steps to obtain his extradition so that he can be tried as a war criminal.
Mr. McNeilThe Mufti is not a war criminal in the technical sense of the term, since he is not an enemy national, nor a person who served in the enemy forces. The matters in respect of which he could be accused would be that, being a person who owed allegiance to the Crown, he committed offences against his own national law. I have already dealt with the question of extradition in reply to another question.
§ Mr. JannerWill the hon. Member say whether he will endeavour to obtain the Mufti by some method or another in order to have him tried?
Mr. McNeilI think if I am going to be asked about some method or another, I must have notice of the question.
§ Sir R. RossIs it not a fact that, unlike the British Government on the question of expelling people who do not want to go back to Russia, the French Government do not extradite people for political offences?
§ Mr. W. FletcherIn view of the terms used, is he the Mufti or the ex-Mufti?
§ Mr. Sydney SilvermanIs it a fact that a request was made by the British Government to the French Government to transfer the Mufti from French to British custody, and can he say whether that request was refused, and whether it will be renewed?