§ 17. Mr. Zilliacusasked the Secretary of State for War how many Polish liaison officers are attached to the British troops in Germany;why they are frequently asked to act as interpreters for British officers in conversations with our Soviet allies; and what proportion of them originally came from the Polish Second Corps or other units under the command of General Anders.
§ Mr. LawsonThe total number of Polish liaison officers employed in the British Zone in Germany is 179. Polish liaison officers are occasionally used as Russian interpreters if they happen to be the only persons available who speak Russian. I understand that none of them come from the Polish 2nd Corps or have served under the command of General Anders.
§ Mr. ZilliacusWhile thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask him if he would consider issuing instructions to discontinue the use of Polish liaison officers, in any circumstances, in view of their bitterly anti-Soviet views?
§ Mr. LawsonI regret that I cannot give any undertaking of that kind, and I would draw the attention of my hon. Friend to the fact that the answer states that the men concerned who are used have not been under General Anders, and that there are very few, as a matter of fact, serving in that capacity.