HC Deb 28 October 1946 vol 428 cc275-6
45. Colonel Stoddart-Scott

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware that the Allied Control Council have decided to release to the world Press official pictures of the hangings of the Nazi war criminals; and what steps he proposes to take to implement his undertaking that no such pictures will be published in this country.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee)

The hon. and gallant Member is misinformed. No pictures, official or otherwise, were taken of the hangings. The only photographs taken were of the bodies after execution. The question of the publication of these photographs was considered by the Allied Control Council on 21st October. The United States member announced that he was in favour of publication and claimed that the Council had already agreed to the publication of one photograph of each of the bodies. The Chairman ruled in favour of this interpretation of the previous decision, which was opposed by the British member. The British member asked that he be recorded as dissenting, and stated that he would not issue the photographs to the British Press. Accordingly no such issue has been made. With regard to the second part of the Question I neither gave, nor was in a position to give, any such undertaking. I said that, for my own part, I was strongly opposed to publication. I am glad to see that the great majority of editors and publishers in this country have taken the same view and have refrained from publication.

Mr. Skeffington-Lodge

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a large body of opinion in this country will very much deprecate the decision of the Allied Control Council in this matter; that what is needed in the world more than anything else is a spirit of amnesty and forgiveness; and that the sooner Nuremberg is regarded as a closed chapter in a nauseating story the better?

Mr. Nicholson

Can the Prime Minister explain how a picture got into one of the Sunday papers? What is the good of taking these decisions if they are not carried out?

The Prime Minister

I explained to the hon. and gallant Member that I could express a wish but that I have no control over the Press in these times, and I understand that there would be strong opposition if the Government tried to have a censorship of the Press.

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