§ 23. Mr. Crawleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information he has received from the British Ambassador in Warsaw as to the number of Polish Socialists who have been re-arrested since the political amnesty was declared and in violation of the Potsdam Agreement.
§ Mr. BevinA communiqué issued by the Polish Ministry of Public Security on 8th June named seven Socialists who had been arrested. Of these, two were arrested last year, and have been in prison ever since. Two others were arrested last year, released and re-arrested in June of this year. The remaining three were arrested in June. Certain other prominent Polish Socialists have also been arrested in May and June. According to the Press, the total number arrested is 23. Not all the persons arrested are at present members of the Polish Socialst Party. Some of them are former members who have resigned from the Party.
§ Mr. CrawleyCan my right hon. Friend say what were the charges against these men?
§ Mr. CocksIs it not a fact that there is nothing in the Potsdam Agreement to prevent the arrest of people identified with sabotage, and is he aware that the chairman of the Socialist Party has stated that, having seen the documents, he is convinced that these people had planned sabotage?
§ Mr. BevinI have not gone into the question of the charges at all. I must say to the House that I cannot take up every charge made against these people. It is impossible.