§ 30. Mr. Turtonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he is taking and has taken to persuade the Polish Government to allow R.A.F. Missing Research Units to enter Poland.
Mr. McNeilThe work of locating the graves of British Service personnel, who died during the last war in Poland is being carried out by two organisations, the Army Graves Service and the R.A.F. Missing Research Inquiry Service. An Army Graves Reconnaissance Party, which included a representative of the R.A.F. Research Service did a good deal of preliminary work last summer and we are asking for facilities for them to renew operations in the spring. We are also seeking for facilities for R.A.F. search personnel. It is true that there have been some delays, owing to the need for discussion with the Poles of the form which our organisation should take, but the Polish Government have never in principle shown any unwillingness to grant facilities. I have heard with satisfaction that General Grosz of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated at a Press Conference in Warsaw on 17th December that there were no difficulties preventing the representatives of our War Graves Commission coming to Poland. This will be of great assistance when the Army Graves Service have completed their work and the Imperial War Graves Commission take over in perpetuity.
§ Mr. TurtonWill my right hon. Friend make it clear that the R.A.F. Missing Research Units will be afforded the same facilities as the Army Graves Registration Units?