§ 39. Mr. Stokesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether further representations will now be made for the release from prison of Archbishop Stepinac now serving a sentence of 16 years imprisonment and hard labour in Yugoslavia.
§ Mr. StokesDoes my right hon. Friend realise what a large body of opinion in this country and elsewhere is outraged by this, and would it not be a most prudent, wise and humane act on the part of Marshal Tito at this stage to set Archbishop Stepinac free?
§ Mr. Leslie HaleDoes my right hon. Friend realise that the news of this sentence was received by His Majesty's loyal Catholic subjects with a feeling of real horror and that it is against the consciences of many people that a man of this eminence and this distinction should be kept in prison for these many years? And is this not a very convenient moment when representations might be made that it would be for the good of relations with Yugoslavia for some action now to be taken?
§ Mr. BevinI do not think the attitude of Yugoslavia has changed as a result of what has happened in another sphere. The horror of this sentence is shared not only by His Majesty's Catholic subjects, but by every decent person, but I am afraid I cannot add to the answer.
§ Mr. GallacherCan the Foreign Secretary tell us how many clergymen were killed by the Black and Tans in Southern Ireland?