Repatriation

HC Deb 10 June 1947 vol 438 cc859-61

43. Mr. Stokes

asked the Secretary of State for War whether arrangements have now been made to place German prisoners captured in the Channel Islands in their right category for repatriation, in accordance with the promise made in July, 1944, to the prisoners of war by the right hon. Member for Woodford (Mr. Churchill).

Mr. Bellenger

The Germans in the Channel Islands after July, 1944, were in the position of a beleaguered garrison; they did not surrender until the final capitulation of the German armed forces, and cannot be regarded as prisoners, of war until they actually came under British control. They are, therefore, correctly placed in the same group for repatriation as others captured during May, 1945.

Mr. Stokes

Has my right hon. Friend studied the wireless declaration of the right hon. Member for Woodford? Because in that declaration he made the position perfectly clear, and if my right hon. Friend carries out what he intended all these people would be in category 19 instead of 29.

Mr. Bellenger

No, Sir, I have not personally studied in detail the speeches of the right hon. Member for Woodford' (Mr. Churchill)—

Mr. Stokes

That was the promise.

Mr. Bellenger

We have made an exhaustive search in the War Office to trace what the right hon. Gentleman did say in this connection, but it does not confirm what my hon. Friend has said.

Mr. Stokes

Would my right hon. Friend bear in mind that while the right hon. Gentleman was Minister of Defence he was not Secretary of State for War; that the declaration was made over the wireless; and that my right hon. Friend will find the record not in the War Office, but in the B.B.C.?

Mr. Bellenger

Well, we cannot find the record anywhere, not even with the right hon. Member himself.

Mr. Stokes

I will send it to my right hon. Friend.

Mr. Driberg

Has my right hon. Friend asked the B.B.C. for the record? Because it is generally known among these prisoners that there was some such promise, which they claim has been dishonoured.

Mr. Bellener

We have made an exhaustive examination, even going to the private secretary of the right hon. Member for Woodford, and nobody seems to know anything about it except my hon. Friend the Member for Ipswich (Mr. Stokes).

Mr. Driberg

Ask the B.B.C.