HC Deb 20 March 1946 vol 420 cc1875-82
Mr. Bevin

I recently told the House that I hoped shortly to be in a position to make a statement on the problem of the Polish Armed Forces under British command.

I have explained the principles under lying the policy of His Majesty's Government in this matter. While we will not use force to compel these men to return to Poland, I have never disguised our firm conviction that, in our view, they ought to go back in order to play their part in the reconstruction of their stricken country. As the House knows, we long ago made it known to the men that trans port facilities would be available for those wishing to return. Some members of the Polish armed forces under our command have availed themselves of these facilities. But from the start I felt that one of the principal causes that prevented a larger number from returning was the lack of certainty in their minds about the conditions upon which they would be received.

For this reason His Majesty's Government have, for many months, been urging the Polish Provisional Government to clarify the conditions which would apply. Agreement has now been reached with the Polish Provisional Government, and we have arranged to issue a document in Polish to every individual member of the Polish Armed Forces. The men will receive it today. This document will be accompanied by a message from myself explaining the policy of His Majesty's Government in regard to the future of the Polish Armed Forces and of the men themselves. I am stating in my message that His Majesty's Government regard the information set forth in the document as satisfactory, and that they consider it to be the duty of all members of those Forces to decide now to return to their own country. I will not burden the House by reading the full texts of these documents but will arrange for them to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

To my great surprise and regret, agreement had hardly been reached upon the text of these documents, when the Polish Provisional Government addressed to His Majesty's Government, and published a Note in which they declared that they could no longer regard the units of the Polish Armed Forces under British command, as forming part of the Armed Forces of Poland. They asked that those units should be disbanded forthwith, and stated that the men who wished to return should make individual application to Polish consulates abroad. This Note has since been fully discussed with the Polish Provisional Government, and I have received assurances from them that it does not affect the conditions set out in the document which is being issued to the troops; that these conditions will still apply to all Polish troops returning from abroad; and that they will, as far as possible, deal with applicants for repatriation by categories rather than insist upon individual scrutiny by their consulates.

Arrangements for the repatriation of those deciding to return will be made by His Majesty's Government in consultation with the Polish Provisional Government. There may be some who will decide not to go back. I am explaining in my message to them that, in execution of the policy announced by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Woodford (Mr. Churchill) His Majesty's Government will give, in collaboration with other Governments, such assistance as is in their power to enable those who fought with us so courageously to start a new-life outside Poland with their families and dependants. But the problem is a difficult one, and His Majesty's Government can, at this stage, offer no guarantee that all of these men will be enabled to settle in British territory at home or overseas. The problem will be studied with the utmost sympathy. What plans can be made will depend very largely upon the numbers of those still remaining, and we shall not know this for some weeks. In any case, the time has now come when a plan for the demobilisation of the Polish Armed Forces must be worked out. If these men had been British soldiers, most of them would have been demobilised already under the age and service scheme. The peculiar circum stances of this case mean that orderly demobilisation will take some time, so there is no question of discharging them overnight.

This problem has been fully explained and discussed by the Prime Minister and myself with General Anders, and with the other Polish commanders who recently came to London for this purpose. We had to make it clear to them that we could not preserve these Polish personnel as an armed force under British Command. We received assurances from General Anders and the other com- manders, that they fully understood; that they will co-operate in ensuring that the statement is communicated to all the men and that no pressure is brought to bear upon them to influence them against going back; and, further, that they will work with the British authorities in taking all necessary steps for the solution of this problem. The success of the arrangements for the repatriation of these men and their fair and proper treatment on their return to Poland will determine to a very large extent the relationships between our two countries.

I feel sure that the House would wish me to pay a tribute to the magnificent services which these forces of one of our first Allies in the late war, have rendered to the common cause throughout the whole long struggle. His Majesty's Government and, I am sure, the whole House, are conscious of their debt to these men and are determined to deal justly by them. His Majesty's Government, as one of the signatories of the Yalta Declaration on Poland, and in view of the further undertakings they received at Potsdam, cannot disinterest themselves in developments in Poland. When these men go back, they can be assured that we shall continue to use our influence in favour of the strict fulfilment of those decisions, and that we shall watch with the closest interest and sympathy the progress of the great tasks of political and economic re construction and the rebuilding of Poland's independence which the Polish nation are already tackling so courageously.

Mr. Eden

I know the right hon. Gentleman will understand that it is difficult to comment fully until we have had a chance to study the documents which His Majesty's Government will make avail able. There are two points I would like to clear up. Despite the later Polish communication to which he referred, is it still the fact that while the men who want to go back will be given every facility, those who do not want to go back will have no pressure put on them to go back? Secondly, as regards those who elect not to go back, are we to take it that His Majesty's Government will do all they possibly can to find another way of life for them within the British Empire, in the spirit of what my right hon. Friend the Member for Woodford (Mr. Churchill) said at an earlier date?

Mr. Bevin

I think the right hon. Gentleman has correctly stated the position, but I would like all hon. Members not to encourage members of the Polish forces to decline to go back. I feel that these magnificent troops will be such an asset to Poland in her political and industrial re construction, that if too much emphasis is placed on what we will do, a wrong impression may be caused. We are extremely anxious that the Polish troops should return to their own country. Subject to that, we cannot relieve ourselves of responsibility for those who feel in their conscience that they cannot go back.

Mr. Price

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his statement will give general satisfaction to those who have been trying to remove some of the difficulties concerning good relations between this country, the present Government of Poland, and the U.S.S.R.?

Mr. Bevin

It is a matter of profound regret to me that some hon. Friends in this House have coupled the existence of these forces with the relationships of our selves and the U.S.S.R. I think no greater injustice has been done to a body of men than to make these brilliant soldiers the subject of propaganda on either side. I speak with conviction. I have not approached this problem influenced to the slightest extent by the Moscow Radio or by Polish predilections. My desire, and that of my colleagues in the Cabinet, in trying to deal with these matters is to recognise that these men fought in the common cause. I think, having fought for it, they are entitled to a proper stake in their country, and if they do not wart to go back to that stake, we owe a debt to them and must repay it for the sacrifices they have made.

Sir Ralph Glyn

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether his statement which is to appear in the Official Report will contain any reference to Scottish and English women who married Polish soldiers, because undoubtedly some are inclined not to go back unless perfectly certain their wives and families will be properly treated?

Mr. Bevin

I have not dealt with that specifically in the document, but all these are problems in which the Prime Minister helps me. He has appointed a Ministerial Committee who will work with me through all the Departments which deal with these problems.

Mr. Warbey

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether assurances have been asked for and received that attacks made by some members of the Polish Armed Forces on Italian Socialists and Communists will now cease?

Mr. Bevin

I did not know that these did occur, except in the imagination of a number of people.

Professor Savory

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will give special consideration to two classes of Polish soldiers: first, those who are domiciled East of the Curzon line and who will not go back in any circumstances; and secondly, the 40 per cent. of the Polish forces who escaped from Russian concentration camps and who also will never go back in existing circumstances?

Mr. Bevin

I cannot tell who will go back and who will not go back. I am not dealing with the return of the Polish Forces on the basis of East or West of the Curzon line. The attitude we have adopted is this,, that they enlisted in the army, under our command, as Poles. My duty therefore is to return them to the new Poland. It is not for me to determine where their domicile is. As there is an arrangement, I understand, to opt to live in the new Poland, even if they go back to the new Poland they are not compelled to go back East of the Curzon line. They will be given the same facilities as those who have come from East of the Curzon line to the West, under the arrangement with Soviet Russia. In regard to concentration camps, I know the hon. Gentle man comes from a sister island which is in the habit of looking backwards. May I suggest that we all look forward in this problem?

Several hon. Members

rose—

Mr. Speaker

I think that the more supplementary questions are put, the more likely it will be that the atmosphere favourable for the return of these men to their country will be endangered. I propose therefore that we should pass on to the next Business.

Following are the documents:

MESSAGE FROM THE BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE POLISH FORCES UNDER BRITISH COMMAND.

His Majesty's Government have many times made it clear that it is their policy to assist the greatest possible number of members of the Polish Armed Forces under British Command to return to Poland of their own free will and in conditions worthy of their great services to the Allied cause. In accordance with this policy they have in recent months been in negotiation with the Polish Provisional Government of National Unity, which the British Government, like other Governments, regard as the only authority entitled to speak on behalf of Poland, regarding the conditions upon which returning Polish soldiers, sailors and air men will be received back in their own country. As a result of these negotiations the Provisional Government has furnished His Majesty's Government with a statement setting forth its policy on this question. The text of this statement is annexed.

The British Government regard this statement as satisfactory. In the light of these assurances they have reviewed the position of the Polish Armed Forces under British Command. They consider it to be the duty of all members of those Forces who possibly can do so to return to their home country without further delay under the conditions now offered them in order that they may make their contribution to the restoration of the prosperity of liberated Poland. Only thus can they serve their country in a manner worthy of her great traditions.

Those who nevertheless feel compelled to remain abroad in full knowledge of the present situation will be treated as far as our resources permit with due recognition of their gallant service. In execution of the policy announced by Mr. Winston Churchill, the British Government will give, in collaboration with other Governments, such assistance as is in their power to enable those who fought with us throughout the war to start a new life outside Poland with their families and dependents. But the British Government, after the most careful examination of the whole problem, are bound to make it plain that they can promise no more than this. There is no question of the Polish Army, Navy or Air Forces at pre-' sent under British Command being pre served by the British Government as in dependent armed forces abroad, and it is the intention of the British Government to disband as soon as practicable those men who decide not to return to Poland. Nor can the British Government offer to the members of the Polish Armed Forces under British command any guarantee that they will all be enabled to settle in British territory at home or overseas.

I appeal on behalf of the British Government to every individual member of the Polish Armed Forces to consider carefully the alternatives which are here set before him. I earnestly trust that the overwhelming majority will decide to avail themselves of this opportunity, especially as I am not in a position to guarantee that there will be a further opportunity for them to return to Poland.

Speaking on behalf of the British Government, I declare that it is in the best interests of Poland that you should return to her now, when she requires the help of all her sons in the arduous task of reconstructing the country and making good the devastation caused by the war.

ERNEST BEVIN.