§ 12. Mr. T. Reidasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that Germans have been deported, against their will, to the U.S.S.R. from the Soviet zone in Germany, contrary to the Potsdam or other allied agreements; and if he will make representations to the proper quarter in order to put an end to this.
§ Mr. MayhewI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to the hon. Member for Hornsey (Mr. Gammans) on 5th November. Since that date the question of deportations from Germany has been actively discussed at all levels of the quadripartite machine in Berlin, and, as it has been impossible to reach agreement, the whole question has been referred to the Allied Control Council, who are considering it at their meeting on 20th November. Until then it is impossible to say whether it will be desirable for His Majesty's Government to take any further steps.
§ Professor SavoryMay I ask the hon. Gentleman whether he is aware of the detailed plans now being considered by the Soviet authorities for the deportation of 800,000 Poles, namely, the whole of the Polish intelligentsia?
§ Mr. MayhewNo, Sir.
§ Professor SavoryMay I send the hon. Gentleman the details of the plans?
§ Mr. PiratinMay I ask the hon. Gentleman whether he has any information to confirm the expression "against their will" used in the Question—to confirm that these people were deported against their will?
§ Mr. MayhewOur information suggests that some of the Germans who went to Russia were willing to do so, but that others were not given the option.
§ Mr. NicholsonDoes the hon. Gentleman see anything to laugh at in the question of deportation, as some hon. Members opposite do?
§ Mr. ScollanCan the hon. Gentleman tell us, if he has any knowledge of these plans to deport the Poles, whether they are likely to be deported to Scotland, where we already have the rest of them?
§ Professor SavoryThey are to go to Siberia, my good sir.