HC Deb 14 February 1949 vol 461 cc762-3
8. Mr. Paton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what grounds S.S. Gruppenfuhrer Dirlwanger, whose name appears on several lists of war criminals was allowed to leave the British zone in Germany to take service with the Arab High Command in Palestine.

Mr. McNeil

No exit permit has been applied for or granted in this name. I have no evidence that he has been in the British zone at any time since the occupation.

Mr. Paton

Will my right hon. Friend consider taking special steps to make this Question and answer and my previous Question and his answer widely known in the United States, where these baseless statements and other similar statements are doing great harm to our national interests?

Mr. McNeil

I am indebted for the suggestion which my hon. Friend has made. Certainly this ridiculous canard has had a limited circulation in certain propaganda newspapers, but I would hesitate to agree that the circulation had been wide. However, we will do what we can to see that the replies are circulated.