§ 40. Mr. Vernon Bartlettasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Germans who had to take refuge in this country before the war by reason of their anti-Nazi activities are still unable to get their possessions in Germany restored to them; and whether he will take steps to hasten the procedure for restoration.
§ Mr. MayhewI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Northwich (Mr. J. Foster) on i6th February last. Every effort is being made to complete the necessary arrangements for effecting restitution in these cases.
§ Mr. BartlettIs the Under-Secretary aware that these refugees sent in their details to Berlin very many months ago, and could he do something to speed up the procedure, because many of them are in advanced states of destitution?
§ Mr. MayhewI agree that there has been considerable delay, largely because in the initial stages we attempted to get quadripartite arrangements on this problem. But we have the ordinance which, in draft, is now on its way to this country, and I hope that early action will be possible.