HC Deb 11 February 1946 vol 419 c4
9. Mr. Ernest Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will now publish the text of the Note addressed by His Majesty's Ambassador in Prague to the Czechoslovak Minister of Foreign Affairs on 22nd November, 1945, regarding compensation for British interests nationalised by the Czechoslovak Government.

Mr. McNeil

My right hon. Friend has nothing to add to the reply given on 23rd January to my hon. Friend the Member for Erdington (Mr. Julius Silverman.)

Mr. Davies

In arriving at that negative answer, did my hon. Friend take into account the misgivings of Czechoslovakia at that Note, particularly as a result of its garbled form in the Press? Would it not improve the relations between the two countries if the contents of the Note were published?

Mr. McNeil

The Czechoslovak Government did not have to depend on a garbled version in the Press for information on this subject.

Mr. John Lewis

Is my hon. Friend aware that the Czechoslovak Government have offered the same treatment to Czech citizens as to British, despite the fact that the Schicht margarine works, which is the subject of this Question, was actively supporting the Henlein party?

Mr. McNeil

The Government are not answerable for Czechoslovak nationals.