HC Deb 03 March 1948 vol 448 cc374-5
15. Mr. Stokes

asked the. Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the wide provisions made in the Potsdam Agreement for the wholesale forcible expatriation of populations from North and Middle Europe, including Eastern Poland, East Prussia, Silesia and Czechoslovakia, he will state which of these provisions were decided upon at Yalta.

Mr. Bevin

No provisions for the forcible expatriation of populations were decided upon at Yalta.

Mr. Stokes

Am I to understand from my right hon. Friend's answer that there were no discussions on this problem? Was that a sudden brain wave which occurred at Potsdam?

Mr. Bevin

That was not the Question. My hon. Friend asked whether any decision was made. I do not know all the discussions that went on. I looked up what was decided, and no such decision was taken.

Mr. Stokes

If I put down another Question, will my right hon. Friend discover whether the matter was discussed at Yalta? May I have an answer to my Question, because, if I am not going to get an answer——

Mr. Bevin

I am not going to answer, any threats at all. If my hon. Friend puts down a Question, I will, of course, endeavour to answer it, as I always do. I do not always give my hon. Friend the answers he wants, but that is not my fault.