§ 17. Mr. Stokesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will state the full terms of all the arrangements made by the allied Chiefs of Staff op behalf of His Majesty's Government at Teheran or Yalta, under which displaced persons are liable to forcible repatriation to their countries of origin.
§ Mr. BevinNo arrangements were made at Teheran for the repatriation of displaced persons. The arrangements for 314 repatriation made at the Crimean Conference were limited to Soviet citizens liberated by forces operating under British command and British subjects liberated by the Soviet armed forces. The agreement covering these arrangements was signed not by the Chiefs of Staff, but by my predecessor, acting on behalf of His Majesty's Government in this country and in the Dominions. The terms of this agreement were published in this country at the time, but I shall be glad to furnish my hon. Friend with a copy if he so wishes.
§ Mr. StokesMay I ask the Foreign Secretary whether he is aware that we have been told in this House, that his predecessor did not sign this Agreement, but that the Chiefs of Staff did, and is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, in consequence, both those who administer the findings of Yalta, and those who have them unfortunately administered on them, are in a state of some bewilderment?
§ Mr. BevinI do not know what has been said, but those are the facts I got from the Office as I have read them out.