§ 10. Mr. Stokesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs who is now responsible for the Yugoslavs detained in Munster Lager; and why it was necessary to change the commandant of this camp.
§ Mr. BevinOwing to the reductions in the British Army of the Rhine, responsibility for guarding the Yugoslavs in Munster Lager has been assumed by the Control Commission. The commandant 368 of Munster Lager camp is unchanged, but an officer of the Penal Branch of the Control Commission is now responsible for the Yugoslav compound.
§ Mr. StokesMy right hon. Friend does not tell me why. These people, who have been very badly treated, in my opinion, were perfectly satisfied with the arrangement they had, although it was penal. Can he say why it was necessary to change the commandant?
§ Mr. StokesWhy did the Control Com-mission decide that?
§ Mr. BevinI do not think I am called upon to tell the hon. Gentleman—who seems to take up these questions of Germany—everything which has to be decided within the Department on the transfer of commandants.
§ Mr. StokesThis has nothing to do with Germany; this is a question of whether we shall, or shall not, send certain people in our power to certain death in Yugoslavia. Why has it been necessary to change the commandant?
§ Mr. BevinThat is not in the Question at all; it is not raised there. If I have to manage these affairs, and the commandant has to be removed, I do not think I am called upon to give every reason for such a change.
Major LloydIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these camps are visited periodically by a Yugoslav mission owing allegiance to Tito, and that the opportunity is taken on every such visit to distribute anti-British propaganda amongst the Yugoslavs who will not go back to Yugoslavia? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of that, and that it has nothing to do with the commandant leaving?
§ Mr. StokesIs my right hon. Friend aware that the hon. and gallant Gentleman opposite is quite wrong?
§ 21. Major Beamishasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the purpose, status, and terms of reference of the Special Refugee Commission set up by the Foreign Office to examine the Yugoslav refugee problem in Germany and Austria; whether I.R.O. is satisfied with its relationship with this Commission, 369 and how the terms of reference of the Commission have been altered by the Yugoslav Government's repudiation of the Bled Agreement.
§ Mr. BevinThe Special Refugee Commission was set up in order to provide His Majesty's Government with information regarding refugees in areas under their control, to assist the British zonal authorities in the screening of such refugees, and to take part in the interrogation of suspected quislings. I have no reason to believe that the International Refugee Organisation are other than satisfied with their relationship with the Commission.
The only effect of the repudiation of the Bled Agreement on the Commission was to relieve it of its liaison duties with the Special Yugoslav Mission which was withdrawn in consequence of the denunciation. The Commission's other activities are virtually complete, and it is now being wound up. Its work has been of the greatest value both to His Majesty's Government and to the refugees themselves, thousands of whom have been enabled to make a fresh start in life after being cleared, on the advice of the Commission, of unfounded charges of collaboration.
§ Major BeamishMay I ask whether, as a result of the activities of this Commission, any Yugoslav nationals are in fact being forcibly repatriated?
§ Major BeamishWill any of them be forcibly repatriated?