§ 37. Commander Maitlandasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many German submarines were 428 surrendered to the United States and Soviet Governments under the terms of the Potsdam Agreement; how many of these have now been destroyed in each case; and when this information was received.
§ Mr. W. EdwardsAs was stated in the reply given to the hon. Member for Londonderry (Sir R. Ross) on 30th April last, ten German submarines were allocated to each of the United Kingdom, United States, and Soviet Governments at Potsdam. The remainder were to be destroyed by 15th February, 1946, and of these, four were, reported by the United States Navy in March, 1946, as having been sunk by them by the appointed date. Eleven others were held by the Soviet Navy, and the Soviet Government gave a further undertaking last March that they would fulfil their obligations in this matter by August this year.
§ Commander MaitlandCan the hon. Gentleman tell the House that these, I think, 21 submarines are all the German submarines which are held by the Soviet Government at the present time in contravention of the Potsdam Agreement?
§ Mr. EdwardsActually the number which they are responsible for destroying is 11. They have promised us that they will do that by August of this year.
§ Sir Ronald RossWas any reason given or known to the Admiralty why these submarines should not have been destroyed by the agreed date?
§ Mr. EdwardsNo actual reason has been given, but we are justified in accepting the assurance they have given.