HC Deb 14 July 1949 vol 467 cc643-4
20. Major Tufton Beamish

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to deport to Poland Mr. Jan Streich, at present in Brixton prison, who arrived in this country as a stowaway on a British ship from Gdynia on 7th June, in view of the fact that this gentleman was closely associated with the underground movement against the Germans during the war and that he fled his country in order to avoid arrest by the security police and that if he returns to Poland he will be treated as a political prisoner.

Mr. Ede

I am carefully considering the representations, some of which only reached me this morning, made on behalf of this stowaway, and I will communicate with the hon. and gallant, Member.

Major Beamish

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that participation in the underground movement against the Axis during the first 18 months of the war is a serious crime in the eyes of the present régime in Poland, and will he give most careful consideration to that fact before deciding to send this man back?

Mr. Ede

I am considering all the matters that have been placed before me about this case. Certain letters forwarded by the friends of this man reached me only this morning, and I want to examine them very carefully.

Mr. Sydney Silverman

Does my right hon. Friend accept the statement in the Question that the present Polish Government regard it as a serious crime to have been associated with the underground movement against the Germans?

Mr. Ede

I do not accept any statement at its face value. I have to examine all the statements that are made in connection with these cases.