HC Deb 07 February 1949 vol 461 cc10-2
16. Mr. Peter Thorneycroft

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is yet in a position to give an assurance that no equipment dismantled from Krupps works will in future be sent to Czechoslovakia.

Mr. McNeil

My right hon. Friend has reconsidered this subject. However, His Majesty's Government are bound by the Paris Agreement on Reparations of January, 1946, to accept the allocations of reparations plants made by the Assembly of the Inter-Allied Reparation Agency. The Czechoslovakian Government is a member of the Agency and has not broken the Paris Agreement. His Majesty's Government could not in any event take unilateral action to frustrate the allocation by the Inter-Allied Reparation Agency to the Czechoslovak Government of plant lawfully at the disposal of the Inter-Allied Reparation Agency Assembly by forcibly withholding it.

Mr. Thorneycroft

Is it not a preposterous state of affairs whereby His Majesty's Government try to keep to the letter of all these agreements which are broken consistently upon the other side, and does not the Minister of State agree that the sending of this equipment to a country like Czechoslovakia, within the Russian sphere of influence, is equivalent to sending it to the Soviet Union? Will reconsideration be given to this matter?

Mr. McNeil

However unfortunate the consequences may be—and I can understand the viewpoint of the hon. Gentleman—the fact is that His Majesty's Government have given their word, in company with 18 other European nations, and we feel that we cannot depart from that bargain into which we entered.

Mr. Platts-Mills

While my right hon. Friend so readily understands the point of view of the hon. Member opposite, will he not also agree that the part that Czechoslovak industries have played in this transaction includes the sending of some thousands of repaired railway engines and items of rolling stock to Western Germany?

Mr. R. A. Butler

While we want to examine the detail of the answer which the right hon. Gentleman has just given, may I ask him to be more explicit about the future sending of such material to Czechoslovakia, or whether his reply refers only to past decisions?

Mr. McNeil

My reply does refer only to past decisions, but I should be honest and add that, of course, these decisions will necessitate the movement of material for some considerable time.

Mr. Butler

But can we have an assurance that no future decision will be taken without information being given to this House?

Mr. McNeil

I should like notice of that Question.

Mr. Molson

Does this line of reasoning also apply to the sending of equipment to Russia itself?

Mr. McNeil

No, that is quite a separate matter.

Mr. Platts-Mills

Send it all to Spain.

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