HC Deb 22 March 1948 vol 448 cc2553-5
20. Mr. Stokes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will publish a report of the discussions which took place at Yalta with regard to the forcible expatriation of populations from North and Middle Europe, including Eastern Poland, East Prussia, Silesia and Czechoslovakia.

Mr. Mayhew

No, Sir. The forcible expatriation of populations was not a special subject for discussion at the Yalta talks. There was discussion on the future western frontier of Poland, and it was realised that this might involve population transfers from such areas as East Prussia and Silesia, but no definite decisions on such transfers were taken.

Mr. Stokes

Yes, I know that no decisions were taken. My right hon. Friend told me that last week. Are we to understand from the answer that this most unwise and unprecedented forcible expatriation of some 15 million people was taken as a sort of afterthought of Potsdam, and was never really properly discussed at Yalta at all?

Mr. Mayhew

It is true that it was not a subject of special discussion at Yalta.

Mr. Stokes

Was it discussed at Yalta? I want to know not whether it was the subject of special discussion, but whether it was discussed at all.

Mr. Mayhew

I have said that there was a discussion about the future of the western frontier of Poland, and it was realised that this might involve population transfers, but there is no mention in the report of the Conference that there was any discussion on the forcible expatriation of populations from Czechoslovakia, or Eastern Poland.

Professor Savory

Will the hon. Gentleman tell us when the agreement for the expatriation of the Sudeten Germans from Czechoslovakia took place?

Mr. Mayhew

That was not discussed at Yalta; it falls outside the question.

Mr. Stokes

It was discussed at Potsdam.

Mr. A. Edward Davies

Will the Minister give the House an assurance that the Government will use their full weight to put an end to this inhuman practice, and that if any further proposals for expatriation are made we shall do all we can to avoid them?