§ 7. Sir Waldron Smithersasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been called to an incident in the British sector of Germany over the banning of a meeting of the Cultural League for Democratic Revival in Germany in the British sector; and what protests are being made to the Soviet Government as a result.
§ 10. Mr. Platts-Millsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent the agreement made on the setting up of the Allied Kommandatura in Berlin extended automatic recognition to all such organisations as were already in existence and recognised; and whether the Kulturbund zur demokratischen Erneuerung Deutschlands was such an organisation.
Mr. McNeilOrder No. 1 of the Allied Kommandatura, dated 11th July, 1945, states that until special notice, all existing regulations and ordinances issued by the Commander of the Soviet Army garrison and Military Commandant of the City of Berlin, and by the German Administration under Allied control, shall remain in force. The "special notice" referred to in this order was, in fact, given under the Allied Kommandatura Order No. BK/O(47)16, dated 23rd January, 1947, as amended by Order No. BK/O(47)193, dated 30th August, 1947. Since the Kulturbund did not comply with these Allied orders, it was banned from the British sector of Berlin. Despite this fact, and a protest by the British Deputy-Commandant to his Soviet colleague, the Soviet authorities in Berlin held a meeting of this organisation on 26th November in a building in the British sector. A letter of protest was sent to the Soviet Commandant on 1st December. I have not yet been informed that a reply has been received.
§ Sir W. SmithersMay I ask whether His Majesty's Government intend to call the Soviet bluff and stop this sophisticated quibbling and prevarication?
Mr. McNeilI do not subscribe to the hon. Gentleman's carefully chosen language, but we shall continue with our protests.